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REYNOLDS  HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


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MAIN  STKI-.KT,  I.OOKIXG  HAST  lUOM  UKOAPWAV.  SM  Kl.ItVX  1 1  I 


HISTORIC  SKETCH 


AND 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM 

OF 

SHELBY  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


“A  people  that  take  no  pride  in  the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors 
will  never  achieve  anything  worthy  to  be  remembered  with 
pride  by  remote  ^fenerations.” — Macaul.w. 

BIOGRAPHY  IS  THE  ONLY  TRUE  HISTORY.”— EMERSON. 


ILLUSTRATEIO. 


e.wbellished  with  portraits  of  Well  known  residents 
OF  Shelby  County,  Illinois. 


SHELBYVILLE.  ILLINOIS: 

The  Wilder  Publishing  Company. 
1900. 


SHELBYVILLE  LEADER  PRINT. 


1596004 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  the  province  of  the  historian  to  snatch 
from  oblivion  that  information  pertaining  to 
nations  and  peoples  which  may  be  of  any  possible 
interest  or  benefit  to  those  of  the  present  or  to 
the  “millions  yet  unborn,"  and  to  faithfully  re¬ 
cord  it  in  enduring  form.  In  order  to  honestly 
accomplish  this  end  the  writer  must  curb  his 
fancies  and  put  a  check  upon  his  imaginative  pro¬ 
pensities  :  he  must  not  seek  to  weave  a  fabric 
of  surpassing  beauty  regardless  of  facts,  which 
must  form  the  basic  foundation  of  all  true  his- 
torv.  But,  rather,  he  must  dig  and  delve  into 
records,  official  and  private ;  into  the  traditions 
handed  down  from  generation  to  generation 
from  decades  long  past ;  into  the  memory  of 
the  old  pioneer  who  still  survives ;  and  by  pro¬ 
longed  and  diligent^  search  seek  to  know  the 
truth,  that  the  truth  alone  in  after  years  may 
bear  record  of  his  work. 

Such  shall  be  our  constant  aim  and  efifort 
in  the  compilation  of  this  historical  sketch  and 
biographical  album  of  Shelby  county.  \\'e  fully 
realize  the  stupenduousness  of  the  task  lying  be¬ 
fore  us,  in  preparing  the  history  of  even  a  coun¬ 
ty  which,  at  first  glance,  might  appear  to  the  un¬ 
initiated  as  an  easy  work :  the  records  and  neces¬ 
sary  data  being  easy  of  access.  But  let  us  dis-, 
abuse  the  mind  of  this  mistaken  idea.  There  are 


in  store  for  us.  in  the  compiling  of  this  history, 
countless  interviews  with  men  of  prominence  and 
obscurity ;  the  following  up  of  many  clues  to  in¬ 
teresting  information,  only  to  find  in  the  end 
they  are  but  wraiths  of  the  facts  they  are  pur¬ 
ported  to  be ;  the  fruitless  search  for  data  to  com¬ 
plete  some  essential  bit  of  history ;  and  weary 
hours  of  delving  into  old  and  musty  records,  that 
we  may  give  to  the  reader  matter  of  interest  as 
well  as  valuable  information.  But  notwithstand¬ 
ing  this  outlook,  we  enter  upon  our  task,  trust¬ 
ing  that  when  completed  this  History  of  Shelby 
county,  than  which  no  other  county  of  the  state 
is  more  historical,  will  be  a  volume  to  be  prized 
for  its  interesting  features  and  genuine  worth. 

W’e  shall  faithfully  seek  to  interest  the  reader 
in  the  pre-historic  days  of  the  county,  and  shall 
give  a  complete  report  of  its  organization,  its 
name,  and  the  construction  of  its  public  build¬ 
ings  ;  some  attention  will  be  paid  to  its  geograph¬ 
ical  situation,  size,  topography,  etc.,  together 
with  brief  mention  of  its  state  roads,  and  politi¬ 
cal  parties :  we  shall  endeavor  to  portray  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  pioneers,  and  will 
glean  a  chapter  from  the  official  records  of  the 
county ;  Shelby’s  part  in  the  wars  of  the  nation 
will  be  alluded  to  by  Comrade  Elgin  H.  Martin, 
as  well  as  the  war  between  the  Gospel  and  the 


wrong,  as  told  in  tlie  ecclesiastical  chapter  by 
Rev’s  H.  H.  Oneal,  \V.  H.  Drummet,  J’>.  W’. 
1  yler,  A.  J.  Smith,  A.  A.  Todd,  J.  h'.  Hair  and 
others.  A  chapter  of  reminiscences  by  Attorney 
(leo.  1).  Rhoads,  wdl  be  found  to  be  interesting 
reading,  and  the  l-iar  of  the  county  will  receive 
extended  mention  from  the  i)en  of  Mon.  (leo.  D. 
Chafee ;  an  interesting  personal  history  is  to  be 
given  by  Rev.  Jas])er  L.  Douthit,  and  the  educa¬ 
tional  work  of  the  county  will  be  dealt  with,  as 
well  as  the  business  enter])rises  and  institutions, 
together  with  a  cha])ter  on  the  Press  from  the 
pen  of  Hon.  (ko.  R.  ('.raybill. 

1  o  the  gentlemen  whose  names  a])pear 
above,  and  to  the  many  others  u])on  whose  cour¬ 
tesy  and  efficient  aid  we  rely  to  hel])  us  in  our 


work,  we  take  this  oi)])ortunity  of  rendering  our 
sincere  words  of  a])])reciation  and  thanks. 

Kollowing  this  department  will  be  the  Iho- 
graphical  division.  It  has  been  said  by  the  im¬ 
mortal  Kmerson  that  ‘‘Piography  is  the  only  true 
history.  In  soliciting  data  for  this  section  of  our 
work  we  shall  confine  ourselves  to  re])resenta- 
tives  of  the  better  class  of  citizens  (jf  the  county, 
but  shall  by  no  means  hoi)e  to  secure  all  of  that 
class  ;  for  there  will  be  many  such  whose  names, 
through  no  fault  of  ours,  will  not  a])pear. 

W'e  have  outlined  our  work,  and  ask  fur  it 
a  careful  though  charitable  perusal.  It  will  not 
be  above  criticism,  but  our  constant  effort  and 
ho])e  shall  be  to  present  to  the  public  a  work  that 
shall  be,  in  a  measure,  creditable. 


JUDGE  TRUMAN  E.  AMES 


HISTORIC  SKETCH  OF  SHELBY  COUNTY. 


(HAPTEK  I. 


I’RKHISTURIC  DAYS. 

()I)serve !  that  Nature  speaks  to  us  with  uiauy 
voices. 

At  morn,  she  whispers  to  us  from  the  dewy 
blade ; 

Ag'ain,  at  noon,  she  speaks  to  us  in  tones  of  daz¬ 
zling  brightness ; 

And  yet  again,  at  eve.  in  husheil  and  solemn 
accents. 

She  asks  us  to  adore  the  God  of  all  Creation. 

—/).  L.  Davis. 

The  scenic  efYect  of  a  broad  stretch  of 
l)rairie  is  inspiringly  beautiful;  but  more  attrac¬ 
tive  to  the  eye  and  pleasing  to  the  inherent  artis¬ 
tic  sense  possessed  in  a  greater  or  lesser  degree 
by  every  buman  being,  is  the  landscape  which 
presents  to  view  the  broad  expanse  of  undidat- 
ing  ])rairie  broken  at  intervals  by  wooded  knolls 
and  hills,  mossy  dells  and  vales,  swiftly  moving 
rivers  and  flowing  brooks. 

Such  was  the  sublhue  scene  presented  in 
the  early  ])art  of  the  century  by  the  territory 
now  ccjnhned  within  the  boundaries  of  Shelby 
county,  when  the  pioneers  and  early  settlers 
came  in  from  the  east  and  up  from  the  south  to 
make  homes  for  themselves  in  what  was  then  a 
wilderness,  uninhabited  save  by  the  "dusky  war¬ 
rior”  and  the  animals  of  the  ])lains. 

.\s  has  been  indicated  this  section  was  di¬ 
vided  between  i)rairie  and  timbered  land,  whicb 
made  it  of  double  value  to  those  who  wished  to 


settle  ui)on  it:  the  ])rairie  being  readily  con¬ 
vertible  into  tillable  farms  without  the  toil  and 
delay  of  "clearing"  it.  while  the  wooded  tracts 
provided  fuel  and  the  timber  from  which  the 
rude  homes  were  constructed.  This  timber 
growth  covered  a  considerable  jiortion  of  the 
land  surface,  but  was  more  dense  along  the 
borders  or  near  the  numerous  creeks  and  rivers. 
.Much  of  it  has  fallen  before  the  sturdy  blows 
of  the  axe  in  the  hands  of  the  settlers,  though 
many  natural  and  artificial  groves  still  remain, 
which,  with  the  broad  acres  of  waving  grain 
and  large  herds  of  sleek  live  stock,  jiroduce  a 
])icturc  of  surpassing  beauty  and  j^leasing  asjiect. 

THE  FLORA. 

Prominent  amongst  the  very  many  trees 
and  |)lants  found  in  what  is  now  Shelby  countv. 
were  the  mai)le.  both  rock  and  black  sugar, 
silver  leaf  and  ash  leaf;  the  smooth  leaf  alder; 
the  false  indigo  shrub ;  the  jiaw-paw ;  the  red 
birch  and  blue  beech  :  the  cherry,  both  choke 
and  cabinet ;  hazelnut ;  hawthorn  ;  hickorv  of  the 
several  varieties ;  ash.  white,  black,  green  and 
blue  :  witch-hazel ;  butternut  and  walnut ;  cotton¬ 
wood  ;  the  several  willows:  elms  and  oaks  of  all 
kinds  ;  poison  ivy  :  ])rickly,  smooth  and  swam]) 
gooseberry  ;  currant ;  elderberry  ;  red  and  black 
ras])berry  ;  blackberry  ;  summer  and  frost  gra])e. 
and  the  rose.  Many  of  the  more  valuable  of 
these  are  now  almost  extinct,  having  been  util¬ 
ized  in  the  constructing  of  buildings  and  the 
manufacture  of  household  furniture  and  farm- 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


ing  inii)lenients.  Tlie  greater  portion  of  the  na¬ 
tive  shrubs  and  ])Iants  have  given  place  to  tlie 
cultivation  of  those  which  are  of  more  practical 
good  to  the  settlers,  still  many  of  them  can  be 
found  in  profusion  along  the  water  courses. 
Many  varieties  of  grasses  were  found  here,  prin¬ 
cipal  amongst  which  was  that  called  blue  joint, 
and  which  grew  to  the  height  of  the  head  of  a 
man  on  horseback. 

THE  FAL’X.V. 

number  of  species  of  ruminating  animals 
are  still  to  be  found  in  the  county,  though  in  the 
early  days  a  great  many  more  e.xisted  in  abund¬ 
ance.  The  i)ioneers  found  both  the  American 
and  W  lute  Tail  Deer,  the  former  being  the  more 
common:  the  lllack  Hear;  the  Gray  and  Prairie 
Wolf;  Gray  Fox;  Panther  and  Wild  Cat,  or 
Fynx.  belonging  to  the  .same  family:  the  Wea¬ 
sel;  Mink;  .American  Otter;  Skunk;  Badger; 
Raccoon  ;  ( )possum  and  other  smaller  animals. 
The  Black  Bear  and  .American  Otter  have  been 
extinct  s])ecies  in  this  section  for  several  de¬ 
cades,  as  have  several  others,  also.  The  presence 
of  civilization  has  driven  them  into  haunts  less 
fre(|uented  by  men. 

.\s  late  as  1820  the  settlers  here  found  an 
abundance  of  the  heads,  horns  and  bones  of  the 
Elk  and  Buffalo,  which  was  evidence  that  these 
noble  animals  had  once  roamed  at  will  and  in 
large  numbers  over  these  plains.  But  ere  this 
the  Buffalo  and  Elk  had  forsaken  these  feedinsr 
grounds  and  had  crossed  the  Alississippi  toward 
the  westward  horizon,  never  to  return.  It  is 
interesting,  but  not  a  matter  of  pleasant  contem¬ 
plation,  to  know  that  where  once  the  noble 
.American  P.uffalo  roamed  in  vast  numbers  over 
the  western  plains.  tJiere  are  now  but  three  small 
herds  known  to  e.xist.  This  is  due  to  the  fla¬ 


grant  and  malicious  killing,  by  those  who  were 
devotees  of  the  chase,  of  this  animal  which 
should  have  been  ])rotected  by  well-enforced 
statutes  long  ere  this. 

'J  he  Raccoons  and  ( )possums  are  to  be 
found  throughout  the  state,  and  were  in  abund¬ 
ance  in  this  region.  Coon  skins  were  considered 
legal  tender  by  the  pioneers,  and  passed  as 
rapidly  among  them  as  greenbacks  do  at  the 
present  day.  Altogether,  the  animals  which  ex¬ 
isted  in  such  plentitude  furnished  rare  and  abun¬ 
dant  sport  for  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
ty. 


FIRST 


PE RMAX EXT  SETTEEMEXT. 


'I'he  first  permanent  settlement  in  what  is 
now  Shelby  county  was  made  in  March  of  1818, 
the  same  year  in  which  Illinois  was  admitted  to 
the  union  of  states.  Charles  Wakefield,  Sr., 
moved  into  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Cold 
Spring  township.  He  was  accomiianied  by  his 
wife  and  children — Simeon,  John  and  Enoch 
Wakefield  were  married  and  brought  their  fam¬ 
ilies  with  them.  Ormsby  \  anwinckle.  a  son-in- 
law,  also  accom])anied  them,  as  did  Charles 
W  akefield,  Jr.,  an  unmarried  young  man.  Mr. 
W  akefield  built  his  house,  the  first  one  to  be 
built  in  this  county,  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  to  the  southeast  of  the  cold  spring, 
which  furnished  an  abundance  of  clear,  cold 
water.  This  house  was  constructed  of  rough 
logs  with  a  chimney  of  sticks  and  mud.  Simeon 
W  akefield  settled  at  the  .s])ring,  with  John  to 
the  southeast,  Enoch  to  the  west  and  Ormsbv 
A  anwinckle  northwest,  on  contiguous  lands. 
This  location,  now  Williamsburg,  was  doubt¬ 
less  chosen  by  these  men  because  of  the  pure 
water,  the  fertile  soil  and  the  abundance  of  all 
kinds  of  game  in  the  surrounding  forest.  The 


6 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


^\'akefields  were  all  noted  hunters  and  genuine 
frontiersmen,  having  lived  in  St.  Clair  county, 
this  state,  before  coming  to  this  county,  and 
after  planting  a  little  corn  in  the  spring  of  the 
vear  they  would  devote  the  balance  of  the  time 
to  hunting  and  fishing.  They  were  very  friendly 
and  intimate  with  the  Indians,  who  were  princi- 
])ally  of  the  Kickapoo  tribe,  and  were  thorough¬ 
ly  conversant  with  their  language,  manners  and 
customs.  These  Indians  went  farther  west  after 
the  l)lack  Hawk  war. 

In  the  same  year  in  whicn  the  Wakefields 
settled  at  the  cold  spring  they  were  followed  by 
several  more  families  from  St.  Clair  county. 
Temuel  Hawkins,  Arthur  Crocker  and  the  Wid¬ 
ow  Petties  with  their  families  made  homes  for 
themselves  in  the  same  locality.  This  made 
([uite  an  addition  to  the  little  colony,  and  the 
time  dragged  not  so  heavily  and  the  long  even¬ 
ings  passed  a  little  more  pleasantly  and  cheer- 
fullv  because  of  the  social  gatherings  at  one 
home  or  another. 

A  year  later,  in  1819,  Thomas  Pugh,  a  na¬ 
tive  of  North  Carolina,  but  who  was  reared  in 
Kentucky,  established  a  home  for  himself  and 
family  near  Cold  Spring,  which  the  little  settle¬ 
ment  had  come  to  be  called.  Mr.  Pugh  was 
(piite  prominently  identified  with  the  early  life 
of  the  Cold  Spring  settlement.  Greenville, 
Pond  county,  was  their  nearest  milling  place 
for  several  years,  and  from  thence  he  would 
bring  supplies  of  powder,  lead,  salt  and  other 
things  and  exchange  them  with  the  Indians  for 
dressed  hides,  bees'  wax  and  other  trinkets. 

All  of  these  settlers,  and  Mr.  Pugh  in  par¬ 
ticular,  had  many  interesting  experiences  with 
the  wild  animals  of  the  forest — the  bears,  wolves, 
panthers,  catamounts  and  wild  cats,  the  latter 
being  very  numerous.  It  was  no  uncommon 
thing  for  him,  as  he  pursued  a  trail  through  the 


forest  to  come  upon  the  partially  devoured  car¬ 
cass  of  a  deer  that  had  fallen  a  victim  to  some  of 
these  animals,  which  were  possessed  of  the  cun¬ 
ning  t(j  conceal  under  a  covering  of  leaves  the 
])ortion  of  the  body  which  remained  after  their 
greed  had  been  satisfied.  The  early  pioneers 
would  often  suffer  much  loss  from  the  ravages 
of  these  wild  beasts  u])on  the  calves  and  hogs. 
We  are  told  that  freciuently  they  would  find 
their  hogs  with  several  ])onnds  of  Hesh  eaten 
from  their  backs  by  a  bear.  It  should  not  then 
become  a  source  of  wonder  that  Mr.  Pugh  and 
the  rest  spent  so  much  of  their  time  in  hunting 
these  voracious  animals  to  their  death  in  order 
to  ])rotect  their  live  stock,  as  well  as  to  ])rovide 
for  themselves  the  hides  and  jjelts  with  which  to 
render  their  rude  dwelling  places  a  little  more 
comfortable  by  fastening  them  to  the  ceiling  and 
walls  for  ])rotection  against  the  drifting  snow 
and  chilling  blasts  of  winter.  Mr.  Pugh  lived  in 
the  county  for  forty  years,  dying  in  1859  on  a 
farm  one  mile  north  of  Shelbyville. 

FIRST  LAND  ENTRY. 

In  1821,  on  the  19th  of  July,  the  first  land 
entry  was  made  in  Shelby  county.  It  was  of 
eighty  acres  in  Section  13.  Township  10 — 2,  by 
Charles  W'akefield.  Sr.  Thomas  Pugh  and  John 
Walker  each  entered  eighty  acres  in  Section  14. 
Townshi])  10 — 2.  in  November,  1822. 

FIRST  MILL. 

Asa  Ledbetter  came  from  the  southern  jiart 
of  Illinois  in  1822,  and  being  of  (piite  an  enter¬ 
prising  dis])osition  he  built  a  mill  on  the  Okaw 
river  a  short  distance  above  Shelbyville,  at  a 
place  since  known  as  the  Francisco  Mill  site. 
He  carried  on  this  enterprise  until  the  spring  of 


/ 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


1828,  wlien  the  mill  was  washed  away  l)y  the 
liig"!!  water.  Air.  Ledl)etter  attempted  to  save 
the  mill  by  wei^diting-  it  down  'with  stone 
brong’ht  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  in  a 
canoe.  On  the  last  trip  across  the  canoe  sank 
and  its  occupant  was  precii)itated  into  the  freez¬ 
ing  water.  He  was  a  i)oor  swimmer  and  before 
help  reached  him  he  had  become  so  chilled  that 
his  own  efiforts  to  keep  up  were  fruitless,  and  he 
lost  his  life. 

FIRST  I’.LACKSMITH  I.\  THE  COHXTY. 

Jonathan  C.  Corley  was  another  man  of 
prominence  among  the  early  jiioneers  of  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  \’irginia,  went  to  Ken¬ 
tucky  m  1808,  and  from  there  came  to  Illinois 
in  1823  and  located  on  Robinson’s  Creek  north¬ 
west  of  Shelbyville.  He  was  the  first  black¬ 
smith  to  settle  .within  the  boundaries  of  our 
county,  and  was  also  a  farmer.  Irle  held  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many  years  and 
was  quite  ])rominent  in  the  county  until  his 
death  in  i860.  Air.  Corley  was  the  father  of 
thirteen  children. 

Perhaps  there  was  none  more  closely  iden¬ 
tified  with  the  early  da\'s,  nor  more  highlv  re¬ 
spected  for  good  judgment  and  integrity  than 
Levi  Casey,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  but  who 
came  to  Shelby  in  1824  and  settled  on  Robin¬ 
son  s  Creek.  Air.  Casey  was  one  of  the  early 
county  commissioners  and  lived  on  the  farm 
upon  which  he  first  settled,  until  his  death  in 

'855- 

In  1825  Samuel  Little  came  from  Southern 
Illinois  and  built  a  cabin  in  what  is  now'  .-Ash 
Glove  townshi]).  The  following  sjiring  he  was 
joined  by  his  brother  John  and  his  brother-in- 
law,  Robert  Duncan,  who  constructed  rude 
cabins  near  by.  They  were  all  genuine  fron¬ 
tiersmen  and  hunters  and  delighted  in  the  hunt 


and  their  associations  with  the  Indians,  upon 
whom  they  played  many  a  practical  joke,  but 
with  whom  the\’  remained  on  ver\'  friendly 
terms.  W  hen  the  Indians  left  the  state  the  Lit¬ 
tles  went  to  1  e.xas,  but  Air.  Duncan  remained 
here  until  his  death.  He  accumulated  consid¬ 
erable  property  in  Bond  count w 

The  first  settler  on  Richland  Creek  was 
David  h.lliott.  who  came  there  in  1825  and  built 
a  horse  mill  and  still  house,  which  he  oiierated 
for  a  number  of  years  with  great  profit  to  him¬ 
self.  In  the  following  year  his  brother,  Jacob 
Elliott,  moved  into  the  settlement,  but  after¬ 
wards  removed  to  Holland  township,  where  he 
itmained  until  his  death  only  a  few  vear.s  ago. 

William  Weeger  was  another  of  the  settlers 
in  jirehistoric  days',  coming  to  Richland  Creek- 
in  1826).  He  was  one  of  the  early  count}'  com¬ 
missioners.  His  eldest  son,  John,  came  to  the 
county  in  the  same  year  and  settled  near  his 
father.  His  wife  gave  birth  to  twins  on  the  4th 
of  July  and  the  Indians  made  for  them  a  double 
])apoose  cradle  which  is  still  rcUined  in  the 
family  as  a  relic  of  the  earlier  davs.  We  might 
mention  the  names  of  Samuel  \\  eathersj)oou, 
Baziel  Daniel.  William  Daniel  and  B.  Fancher. 
who,  with  their  families,  settled  in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood  of  Big  Springs  in  1826. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  John  Cochran, 
with  his  three  sons-in-law,  John,  Daniel  and 
\\  illiam  Price,  came  to  the  county  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Cochran’s  Grove.  Air. 
Cochran  was  the  father  of  five  children,  the 
youngest  of  whom,  James,  survived  the  others 
for  many  years.  John  Frazer,  Robert  Temple¬ 
ton.  John  Storm,  John  Bolin,  Daniel  Green. 
Joseph  Dixon  and  Robert  Rankin,  with  their 
families,  were  also  very  early  settlers  of  Ash 
Grove  townshi]).  where  many  of  their  descend- 
ents  still  reside. 


8 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


James  and  John  Renshaw  came  from  White 
county  with  a  drove  of  hogs  in  1825.  They 
were  so  pleased  with  the  country  hereabouts 
that  they  went  home,  sold  their  possessions  and 
returned  to  Richland  Creek  the  following  year, 
and  settled  themselves  and  families  ui)on  desir¬ 
able  jiroperty  there.  James  afterwards  lived  in 
Shelhyville  for  awhile,  suhseciuently  moving  to 
IJecatur,  Illinois.  John  continued  on  the  farm 
upon  which  he  first  settled. 

Jjy  many  of  the  older  citizens  Harnett 
Hone  will  he  remembered.  He  was  amongst 
the  early  settlers,  coming  to  Illinois  in  1825 
from  Tennessee,  his  native  state.  He  built  a 
comfortable  and  substantial  log  cabin  on  the 
banks  of  the  C)kaw,  about  two  miles  south  of 
the  present  site  of  the  City  of  Shelhyville.  In 


this  house  was  held  the  first  session  of  the  Coun¬ 
ty  Commissioners’  Court.  Mr.  Hone  was  a  pub¬ 
lic  spirited  man.  and  was  ever  ready  to  further 
the  interests  of  the  county  and  assist  in  its  de- 
velojiinent.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the 
^lethodist  church,  and  his  name  was  always  the 
synonym  of  cordial  hospitality  and  kindness. 
He  was  twice  married  and  lived  to  a  good  old 
age,  dying  in  the  county  in  which  he  had  lived 
so  many  years  and  with  the  interests  of  which  he 
had  been  .so  i)rominently  identified. 

And  thus,  with  this  brief  mention  of  the 
men  and  their  families  who  braved  the  hard¬ 
ships  and  dangers  of  pioneer  life,  and  reclaimed 
this  region,  in  the  "Prehistoric  Days,"  we  pass 
on  to  the  establishment  of  the  county  corporate. 


OROANIZATION-NAME-COUNTY  BUILDINGS. 


(lIAPrEH  II. 


The  jjrand  and  illimitable  possibilities 
wbicb  the  pioneers  and  statesmen  of  the  early 
days  prophetically  saw  in  this  section  of  the 
country,  and  caused  them  to  advise  the  addi¬ 
tion  of  a  new  civil  organization  to  the  number 
of  counties  in  the  state,  have  all  been  demon¬ 
strated  :  and,  indeed,  jjreater  things  than  then 
existed  in  their  most  sanguine  bo])es  have  been 
realized. 

In  January  of  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  twenty-seven,  the  act  of  the  legis¬ 
lature  of  Illinois  creating  the  County  of  Shelby 
was  ap])roved  by  the  (Governor  and  went  into 
efifect.  Then,  Shelby  was  to  the  casual  observer 
but  a  strip  of  prairie  land,  here  and  there  dotted 
with  woodland,  but  with  a  fertile  soil  and  such 
a  geogra]dhcal  location  as  to  intimate  to  the 
interested  ones  that  it  was  valuable  pro])erty ; 
today,  there  are  broad  and  beautiful  farms  which 
are  ])leasing  to  the  eye  and  which  provide  sus¬ 
tenance  for  thousands  of  people.  Then,  there 
were  but  a  few  settlers,  scattered  over  more  than 
a  thousand  sipiare  miles  of  territory,  while  today 
there  is  a  population  within  her  borders  of 
thirty-two  thousand  one  hundred  twenty-six. 
Then,  there  were  but  rude  cabins  of  rough-hewn 
logs,  while  today,  in  their  stead  are  the  neat, 
beautiful  and  commodious  homes  of  the  citizens, 
'I'hen,  there  were  but  a  small  number  of  log 
school  houses  and  ])laces  of  worship ;  now,  there 


are  a  great  many  very  fine  schools  and 
churches  of  elegant  modern  architectural  de¬ 
sign.  Then,  there  were  but  the  winding  prairie 
roads  and  rough  jiaths  leading  through  the 
timbered  lands  ;  now,  there  are  the  smooth  and 
well-kept  highways  and  by-roads,  'riien,  there 
were  no  means  of  transjiortation  but  the  pack- 
horse  and  lumber  wagon  ;  today,  there  are  many 
miles  of  railroad  which  furnish  excellent  and 
convenient  transportation  facilities.  In  those 
early  days  agriculture  and  hunting  furnished  the 
only  occuiiation  for  the  settlers,  while  today 
commercial  ])ur.suits  of  every  sort  and  extent 
arc  carried  on.  Then,  there  was  but  an  imjier- 
fect  judicial  system ;  now,  the  well-established 
and  ])erfectly  conducted  courts  of  law. 

Prior  to  the  session  of  the  legislature  which 
])assed  the  bill  creating  Shelby  county,  the  ])eo- 
l)le  had  favorably  cgnsidered  the  jirojiosition  to 
establish  the  new  county  and  appointed  a  com¬ 
mittee  to  go  to  \  andalia,  which  was  then  the 
state  cajiital,  and  .secure  the  enactment  of  the 
bill  before  spoken  of,  a  co])y  of  winch  we  ap- 
jiend  ; 

An  act  creating  Shelby  county  : — 

Sec.  I. — I’e  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  represented  in  tlie  general  as¬ 
sembly.  that  all  that  tract  of  country  lying 
within  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit :  begin¬ 
ning  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Sec.  19.  in 
townshi])  nine  north,  range  one  east,  of  the 
third  principal  meridian,  then  north  on  the  said 
meridian  line,  thirtv  miles  to  the  northwest  cor- 


10 


HIS  rORIC  SHE  TCH. 


ner  of  section  ly,  in  townsliip  fourteen  north; 
tlience  east  thirty-six  miles  to  the  nortlieast 
corner  of  section  24,  township  fourteen  north, 
rang-e  six  east;  thence  south  thirty  miles  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  13:  thence  west 
thirty-six  miles  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall 
constitute  a  new  county,  to  be  called  Shelby. 

Sec.  2. — For  the  pur])ose  of  fixing  the  per¬ 
manent  seat  of  justice  of  said  county,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  ])ersons  are  appointed  commissioners, 
to-wit :  John  Mopton,  Easton  W’hiton,  and 
Win.  E.  D.  Ewing,  who,  or  a  majority  of  them, 
being  first  duly  sworn  before  some  justice  of  the 
])eace  of  this  state,  faithfully  to  take  into  view 
the  convenience  of  the  people,  the  situation  of 
the  settlement,  with  an  eye  to  future  popula¬ 
tion,  and  the  eligibility  of  the  place;  shall  meet 
at  the  house  (E  I’arnet  Hone,  in  said  county,  on 
the  first  Monday  of  .April  next,  and  i)roceed  to 
examine  and  determine  on  a  permanent  seat  of 
justice  for  said  county,  and  designate  the  same: 
Provided,  the  jiroprietor  or  proprietors  of  said 
land  shall  give  to  the  county  for  the  ])urpose  of 
erecting  public  buildings,  a  (juantity  of  land, 
not  less  than  twenty  acres,  to  be  laid  out  in  a 
s(|uare  form,  and  divided  into  lots  of  a  conven¬ 
ient  size,  and  sold  for  the  ])urpose  of  erecting 
public  buildings  in  said  county  ;  but,  should  the 
projmietor  or  pro])rietors  refuse  to  make  a  do¬ 
nation  as  aforesaid,  then,  in  that  case,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  said  commissioners  to  fix  on 
some  other  ])lace  for  the  seat  of  justice,  as  con¬ 
venient  as  may  be.  to  the  place  first  selected  ; 
iVovided,  the  proprietor  or  proprietors  of  the 
land,  shall  make  a  donation  of  twenty  acres  of 
land,  to  be  laid  out  as  above  i)rovided  for ; 
which  place,  when  so  fixed  upon,  shall  be  the 
county  seat  of  said  county. 

The  said  commissioners  shall  certify  their 
proceeding  to  the  next  county  commissioners' 


court,  to  be  held  in  and  for  said  county,  which 
court  shall  cause  a  record  to  be  matle  thereof 
in  their  books. 

Sec.  3. —  L’ntil  public  buildings  shall  be 
erected  for  the  purpose,  the  court  shall  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Parnet  Pone,  in  said  county. 

Sec.  4. — An  election  shall  be  held  at  the 
house  of  the  said  Parnet  Pone,  on  the  second 
Monday  of  Ai)ril  next,  for  one  sheriff,  one  cor¬ 
oner.  and  three  county  commissioners  for  said 
county,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  until  the 
next  general  election,  and  until  their  successors 
are  {pialified  ;  which  said  election  shall  be  con¬ 
ducted  in  all  respects  agreeably  to  the  provis¬ 
ions  of  the  law  regulating  elections.  Provided, 
that  the  (|ualified  voters  present,  may  elect  from 
their  number  present,  three  (pialified  voters,  tcj 
act  as  the  judges  of  said  election,  who  shall  ap¬ 
point  two  (pialified  voters  to  act  as  clerks. 

Sec.  5. —  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  of 
the  circuit  of  said  county,  to  give  public  notice 
at  least  ten  days  jirevious  to  the  election,  to  be 
held  on  the  second  Monday  in  April  next;  and 
in  case  there  shall  be  lur  clerk  in  said  county, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  recorder,  or  any  jus¬ 
tice  of  the  ])eace  residing  within  the  limits  of. 
said  countv.  and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the 
lieace  for  the  county  of  Fayette,  to  give  notice 
of  the  time  and  place  (jf  hi^lding  said  election. 

Sec.  6. — The  citizens,  of  the  said  county 
of  Shelbv,  are  hereby  entitled  in  all  respects  to 
the  same  rights  and  privileges  as  are  allowed, 
in  general,  to  the  other  counties  of  this  state. 

Sec.  7. — The  commissioners  appointed  to 
locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  county  of  Shel¬ 
bv.  shall  receive  the  sum  of  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  per  day.  for  each  day  necessarily  spent  in 
discharging  the  duties  imposed  on  them  by  this 
act,  to  be  allowed  bv  the  county  commissioners’ 


HISTORIC  SKIiTCII. 


court,  and  to  l)e  i)ai(l  out  of  the  treasury  of 
said  county. 

Sec.  8. — All  that  tract  of  country  lyinj^ 
north  of  the  aforesaid  county  of,  and  within  the 
present  honndaries  of  the  county  of  Fayette, 
shall  be  attached  to  the  said  county  of  Shelby 
until  otherwise  provided  by  law ;  and  for  niein- 
bers  (jf  the  j.;;-cneral  assembly,  said  county  of 
Shelby  and  the  attached  parts  thereof,  shall  vote 
with  Fayette,  l!ond,  and  Montgomery  counties; 
and  the  clerks  of  the  counties  of  I’ond,  Fayette, 
Montgomery,  and  Shelby,  shall  meet  at  \’an- 
dalia,  the  county  seat  of  Fayette,  to  compare 
the  number  of  votes  for  senator  and  representa¬ 
tive  to  the  general  assembly,  and  sign  the  nec¬ 
essary  certificates  of  election  at  \'andalia,  and 
forward  the  same  to  the  person  or  persons  en¬ 
titled  to  such  certificate  of  election. 

Sec.  y. — The  county  seat  of  Shelby  county, 
when  established,  shall  be  called  Shelbyville. 

Sec.  lo. — The  north  half  of  township  nine 
north,  range  one  west,  all  of  townships  ten, 
eleven  and  twelve,  north,  range  one  west  of  the 
third  principal  meridian,  shall  be  attached  to 
the  county  of  Montgomery ;  and  the  citizens 
within  the  tract  of  country  above  described, 
shall  have  the  same  rights  and  privileges,  as  the 
citizens  of  the  county  now  or  shall  hereafter 
have. 

Sec.  11. — The  said  county  of  Shelby  shall 
be,  and  is  hereby  attached  to  the  second  judicial 
circuit. 

’I'his  act  to  take  effect  from  its  passage. 
Approved,  January  23,  1827. 

XIX 1  AX  EDWARDS,  Governor. 

EOCATIXG  OF  COL’XTY  SEAT. 

The  commissioners,  who  were  appointed 
to  locate  the  site  for  the  countv  seat  of  Shelbv. 


with  their  part)’,  in  due  time  entered  u[)on  the 
work.  They  came  into  this  region  in  an  ox 
wagon,  which  contained  not  only  themselves 
and  their  cam])ing  outfit,  but  a  barrel  of  "( )ld 
Rye"  as  well.  This  had  been  given  them  with 
the  stipulation  that  they  were  not  to  open  it 
until  they  had  decided  upon  a  desirable  site. 
After  hunting  in  different  localities  for  miles 
around,  they  came  back  to  the  ])lace  where 
Shelbyville  now  stands,  and  which  was  then 
covered  with  heavy  timber  and  thick  brush. 
( )n  the  side  of  the  hill  was  a  fine  s])ring  of  clear, 
cold  water,  which,  we  believe,  is  now  covered  by 
the  C.  &  IE  I.  depot.  After  driving  a  stake  just 
where  the  court  house  is  built,  thus  designating 
the  site  where  it  should  stand,  they  immediately 
rolled  the  barrel  from  the  wagon  and  knocked 
in  the  head.  Each  was  supplied  with  a  tin  cu]), 
and  began  at  once  to  relieve  his  thirst,  which, 
it  can  be  imagined,  had  become  very  great.  In 
the  words  of  one  of  the  party,  who  told  the  tale, 
‘‘by  morning  there  was  at  least  a  quarter  of  an 
acre  of  hazel  brush  wallowed  down.”  Thus  was 
the  county  seat  of  Shelby  located. 

W'e  add  the  report  of  these  commissioners, 
which  they  rendered  to  the  county  commission¬ 
ers'  court  at  its  meeting  in  April,  1827: 

REPORT  ()E  COMMISSIOXERS  EOCAT- 
IXG  COUXTY  SEAT. 

State  of  Illinois,  Shelby  County. 

W  e,  the  undersigned  commissioners,  ap¬ 
pointed  under  the  authority  of  the  Act  creating 
Shelby  county,  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  for 
the  same,  being  sworn  as  required  by  said  Act. 
did  meet  at  Barnet  Bone’s  at  the  time  specified 
in  said  law,  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  ex¬ 
amine  the  country,  with  a  view  to  the  selection 
of  a  i)roper  and  suitable  site  for  said  seat  of  jus- 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


tice.  and  liaving  satisfied  ourselves  upon  the 
subject,  to  unanimously  select  and  agree  upon 
the  E.  1-2  of  S.  E.  1-4,  of  Sec.  7.  Town  i  1  North, 
Range  4  East,  as  the  tract  upon  which  the  town 
of  Shelbyville  shall  be  placed. — The  public 
square. — A  hickory  stake,  which  the  s.;id  com¬ 
missioners  drove  down  on  said  tract,  standing 
between  three  red  oaks — one  at  the  distance  of 
five  paces  iti  a  northwest  direction,  one  five 
paces  in  a  northeast  direction,  and  the  (jther 
four  paces  in  a  southeast  direction. 

Ciiven  under  our  hands  this  fifth  day  of 
April,  1827. 

E.\vST()X  Will  TON, 

WM.  LEE  1).  EWIXE. 
JOHX  HOPTOX, 

Commissioners. 

We  also  CO]))'  a  couple  of  other  documents 
relative  to  the  affair,  which  will  be  of  interest  ; 

The  above  tract  of  land  has  been  entered 
in  the  land  office  at  \’andalia.  by  Robt.  K. 
McLaughlin,  James  M.  Duncan,  and  James  T. 
l’>.  Stapp,  who  have  severally  agreed  to  make 
collectively  the  donation  required  by  law.  .Vpril 
5,  1827.  WILLIAM  LEE  1).  EW1X(L 
State  of  Illinois.  Shelb\-  County. 

lie  it  remembered,  that  on  this  day  per¬ 
sonally  came  before  \\  illiam  Hall.  Senr.,  a  Jus¬ 
tice  of  the  Peace,  in  and  for  said  county,  John 
Hopton,  Easton  Whiton  and  William  Lee  I). 
Ewing,  commissioners  under  the  law  creating 
Shelby  county,  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  for 
the  same,  and  took  the  necessary  oath  rcMpiired 
l)y  said  law. 

Ciiveu  under  my  hand  this  2nd  day  of  April, 
1827.  WILLIAM  HALL,  SEXR..  J.  P. 

FIRST  ELECTION'. 

In  accordance  with  the  ])rovision  of  the  law 
establishing  the  county,  the  first  election  was 


held  at  the  house  of  llarnet  Hone  on  the  second 
Monday  of  April,  1827,  and  the  following  of¬ 
ficers  were  elected  :  John  Whitley,  I^evi  Casey, 
W  illiam  Weeger,  commissioners  :  W  illiam  W  il- 
liamson,  sheriff:  Isaac  Martin,  coroner. 

FIRS'I'  .MEETIXC'.  OF  COL'XTV  COMMIS¬ 
SIONERS'  COCRT. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  county  commis¬ 
sioners'  court  was  also  held  at  the  house  of 
llarnet  Hone,  and  Joseph  (  )liver  was  a])pointed 
county  clerk,  in  addition  to  which  he  i)erformed 
the  duties  of  county  recorder  and  circuit  clerk. 
\\  illiam  Williamson  was  appointed  surve\  or, 
and  it  was  he  who  laid  out  the  county  seat.  It 
was  at  the  first  session  of  the  court  that  the 
bond  of  McLaughlin.  Duncan  and  Sta])p,  for 
the  donation  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  for  the 
county,  in  the  ])enal  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars, 
was  recei\ed  by  the  court  and  filed  by  the  clerk 
of  the  same. 

.\sa  Ledbetter  received  the  appointment  of 
count\'  treasurer,  and  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of 
two  thousand  dollars,  with  Shelton  Allphin  and 
Richard  'rhomast)n  as  sureties. 

The  above  proceedings  constitute  the  prin- 
cii)al  part  of  the  business  transacted  at  the  first 
term  of  the  commissioners'  court. 

FIRST  MEET  1X0  OF  HOARD  OFSL'PER- 
\  ISORS  AND  TOWNSHIP  OR¬ 
GANIZATION. 

In  this  connection  it  will  be  well  to  mention 
and  transcribe  from  the  official  records  an  ac¬ 
count  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  super¬ 
visors  and  organization  under  the  new  town¬ 
ship  organization  law,  which  was  passed  by  the 
legislature  of  1849.  previous  to  which  township 

13 


HISTORIC  SKIi  TCI  I. 


organization  Iiad  I)een  unknown  in  this  state. 
1  he  first  law  relative  to  this  was  repealed  two 
years  after  its  ])assag'e.  and  a  new  enactment 
took  its  place.  In  1859.  the  people  of  this  conn- 
t\'  ado])ted  this  form  of  f^overnmcnt,  which  has 
been  in  vof^ue  throug-h  all  the  years  since. 

1  )urinjy  its  December  term,  1859,  the  countv 
court  a])pointed  James  Cutler,  E.  ('..  Shallenber- 
j^er  and  llenjamin  h'.  Frazer,  commissioners  to 
divide  the  county  (jf  Shelby  into  towns  agree- 
al)l\-  to  the  statute  to  provide  for  townshi])  or¬ 
ganization.  r.elow,  we  give  an  e.xtract  from  the 
official  record  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  hoard 
of  sui)ervi.sors,  containing  the  names  of  the 
townships  into  which  the  county  had  been  di¬ 
vided,  together  with  a  list  of  the  supervi.sors 
elected  therefrom  : 

"Agreeable  to  a  i)etiti(m  signed  by  a  major¬ 
ity  of  the  sui)ervisor.s  elected  on  the  3rd  day  of 
April  last,  recpiiring  the  clerK  of  the  county 
court  of  Shelby  county  to  jniblish  a  call  in  the 
Okaw  Democrat,  re(iuiring  the  members  elect 
<jf  said  board  to  meet  at  the  court  house  in  Shel- 
byville,  cm  I'riday.  the  8th  day  of  June,  i860, 
for  the  puri)ose  of  organizing  and  attending  to 
any  other  business  lawfully  brought  before  the" 
board." 

.\greeable  to  the  request  of  said  petition¬ 
ers.  the  call  was  duly  published  in  said  ( )kaw 
Democrat,  and  on  the  8th  day  of  June,  i860, 
the  following  members  of  said  board  met  at  the 
clerk’s  office,  in  the  court  house,  in  the  town  of 
Shelbyville,  and  answered  to  their  names  respec¬ 


tively,  to-wit : 

Township. 

John  R.  ^^'arren . Tower  Hill 

W  illiam  15.  Travis . Rural 

George  F.  Hutchinson . Flat  Branch 

John  Freeman . ]\Iowea(|ua 

W’illiam  L  Hilton . Drv  Point 


John  C.  Selby . Rose 

David  JWving . Ridge 

John  Casey  . . Pickaway 

William  J.  h.  Howe . llolland 

1C.  (5.  Shallenberger . Shelbyville 

Alfred  Krancisco . ( )kaw 

W’illiam  Hanning . Prairie 

Joseph  H.  Brown  .  .  . . Richland 

-Kle.xander  W  alker . W  mdsor 

W  illiam  B.  Bennett . \sh  (Crove 


(  )n  motion  of  W  illiam  B.  'I'ravi.s,  .\lexan- 
der  W  alker  was  nominated  and  duly  chosen 
chairman  of  the  board  ])ro  tern,  whereui)on  the 
chairman  called  the  board  to  order. 

Hn  motion  of  W’illiam  15.  'fravis,  it  was 
agreed  to  that  the  petition  for  a  call  of  the  board 
of  su])ervisors  above  alluded  to.  should  be 
spread  u])on  the  journal  of  said  board,  to-wit  : 

A  CAFF  FOR  THE  BOARD  Oh'  SCPFR- 
\  ISORS  TO  HEFT  .\XD  OR¬ 
GANIZE. 

W  c.  the  undersigned  supervisors,  elected 
for  the  county  of  Shelby.  Illinois,  on  Hondav. 
the  3rd  day  of  .\pril,  last,  do  hereby  reejuest  the 
clerk  of  the  county  court  for  the  countv  of 
Shelby,  to  give  notice,  by  ])ublication  in  the 
( )kaw  Democrat,  calling  the  members  of  the 
said  board  of  supervisors  to  meet  at  the  court 
house  in  Shelbyville,  on  Friday,  the  8th  dav  of 
June,  i860,  for  the  pur])ose  of  organizing  ac¬ 
cording  to  law,  and  to  tran.sact  any  other  busi¬ 
ness  that  may  be  lawfully  brought  before  them. 
(Signed  by  supervisors  elected.) 

It  was  then  moved  and  seconded  that  the 
members  elected  produce  their  certificates  of . 
election  whereu])on  the  following  supervisors 
laid  before  the  chairman  their  certificates  and 
evidence  of  election,  to-wit : 


14 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


(Here  follow  names  of  supervisors  as  given 
above.) 

On  motion  of  W  illiam  15.  Hennett,  it  was 
agreed  to  that  said  board  now  proceed  to  elect, 
bv  ballot,  a  permanent  chairman  of  the  board. 

Whereupon,  John  Casey,  Es(j.,  received 
ten  votes  for  chairman  :  scattering,  four  votes. 

Immediately  following  this  business,  came 
the  adoption  of  the  rules  of  order,  a  score  or 
more,  well  calculated  to  ]ireserve  the  decorum 
of  that  august  body  and  to  govern  their  action 
while  in  session. 

The  chairman  a])pointed  the  following 
standing  committees  : 

Finance; — John  R.  Warren.  William  15. 
15ennett.  and  .Mexander  Walker. 

Claims  — F.  C.  Shallenberger.  David  Fw- 
ing.  and  John  C.  Selby. 

Equalization: — W.  J.  F.  Howe.  John  Free¬ 
man,  William  15.  Travis,  James  i5rownlee.  and 
Joseph  M.  15rown. 

Roads  and  I5ridges : — James  McXntt.  .Al¬ 
fred  Francisco.  William  Manning. 

Public  Puildings: — George  T.  Hutchinson, 
Jefferson  Williamson,  William  .\.  Milton. 

James  Cutler,  F.  (T  Shallenberger  and  15. 
I’razer  were  allowed  ten  dollars  each,  for  ser¬ 
vices  as  commissioners  to  lay  off  the  county  in¬ 
to  townships ;  a  remuneration  none  too  great, 
considering  the  arduous  task  they  had  to  per¬ 
form. 

The  supervisors  were  allowed  two  dollars 
each  per  day  for  the  meeting,  llurrel  Roberts, 
the  clerk,  was  allowed  six  dollars  for  two  days 
at  court.  Jacob  Culter,  sheriff,  was  allowed  two 
dollars  for  two  days  at  court. 

At  the  regular  meeting  in  September,  the 
following  supervisors  produced  certificates  of 
election  :  Jefferson  Williamson,  Alexander  Wal¬ 
ker.  James  McXutt  and  James  15rownlee.  At 


this  meeting  it  was  announced  that  John  C.  Sel¬ 
by  was  dead,  and  Edward  Roessler  was  duly 
appointed  supervisor  from  Rose  township  to  fill 
the  vacancy. 

t  )f  the  above  named  supervisors,  who  con¬ 
stituted  the  first  board  of  Shelbv  countv,  John 
Freeman  was  the  first  republican  chairman,  be¬ 
ing  subsequently  appointed  to  that  responsible 
])Osition.  Should  this  roll  of  supervisors  be 
called  now.  W  illiam  flennett  would  be  the  only 
one  of  them  to  respond,  the  others  having 
passed  away. 

NAME. 

Closely  identified  with  the  organization  of 
the  county,  is  the  name  thereof,  which  was  not 
left  for  the  jieople  more  directly  interested  to 
decide  iqion.  but  was  given  by  the  same  act  of 
the  legislature  which  established  the  county. 
This  act  specified  that  the  county  should  be 
called  Shelby.  This  was  in  honor  of  Isaac  Shel¬ 
by,  whose  name  was.  at  that  time,  held  in  re¬ 
membrance  by  the  entire  country.  }ilr.  Shelby 
was  born  in  Marvland  in  1750.  He  served  as 
a  soldier  in  tbe  Revolutionary  war,  and  after¬ 
wards  held  many  offices  in  civil  life.  In  1771 
he  moved  to  the  west,  and  three  years  later 
served  as  a  lieutenant  in  an  e.xpedition  against 
the  Indians.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tion  he  became  a  captain  of  a  military  company 
in  \'irginia.  Later,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  commissary  department,  for  the  frontier.  In 
1779  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  delegates  of 
X'irginia.  and  soon  afterwards  received  a  ma¬ 
jor's  commission,  and  the  next  year  was  pro¬ 
moted  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  as  recognition  of 
his  bravery  at  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain. 
Tn  1780  he  received  a  vote  of  thanks  and  a 
sword  from  the  legislature  of  Xorth  Carolina, 


HISTORIC  SHE  TCI  I. 


o{  which  lie  was  elected  a  niember  in  1781  — 
1782.  In  1781  he  served  in  .Marion’s  company, 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  state  of  Ken¬ 
tucky.  in  1792,  he  was  chosen  (jovernor,  and 
held  the  office  four  years.  He  was  again  gov¬ 
ernor  of  that  state  from  1812  to  1816.  In  1813 
(lovernor  Shelhy  joined  (leneral  Harrison  at  the 
head  of  four  thousand  Kentuckians,  served  at 
the  battle  of  the  Thames,  and  owing  to  bravery 
and  gallantry  displayed  at  that  battle,  was  pre¬ 
sented  by  Congress  with  a  gold  medal.  Such  iu 
brief  is  the  record  of  the  man  of  bravery  and 
])atriotism  for  whom  Shelby  county  is  named, 
and  from  whom  the  city  of  Shelbyville  derived 
its  name;  thus  conferring  an  honor,  not  upon 
the  man,  but  upon  the  county  and  city  them¬ 
selves. 

FIRST  COL’RT  HOl'SE. 

-Vt  their  regular  Se])tember  meeting  in  1827, 
the  county  commissioners  came  to  the  conclu¬ 
sion  that  it  was  essential  to  the  projier  transac¬ 
tion  of  business,  to  have  a  suitable  building 
erected  for  the  purpose.  As  may  be  supposed, 
the  reguirements  were  not  great,  and  after  a 
good  deal  of  discussion  about  ways  and  means 
and  Ilians,  it  was  decided  that  a  log  building,  of 
the  style  and  size  described  below,  should  be 
erected. 

The  building,  which  was  the  first  court 
house  of  Shelby  county,  was  built  upon  the  east 
half  of  lot  number  five,  in  block  number  one. 
a  few  rods  southeast  of  where  the  present  struc¬ 
ture  stands.  As  has  been  indicated,  it  was  built 
of  hewn  logs,  and  was  twenty  feet  wide  by  twen¬ 
ty-four  feet  long.  The  first  story  was  but  nine 
feet  high  in  the  clear,  while  the  second  story 
was  but  five  feet  high,  to  the  top  of  the  wall 


jilate  :  thus  it  was  about  fourteen  feet  from  the 
ground  to  the  eaves  of  the  building.  The  roof 
was  of  ordinary  hand-made  shingles.  There 
were  two  doors  below,  also  two  windows  of 
fifteen  lights  each,  with  shutters,  and  in  the  u])- 
|)er  story  there  were  two  windows  of  like  di¬ 
mensions.  The  floors  of  the  two  rooms  were 
])lanked.  The  upper  ])art  of  the  building  was 
reached  by  steps  placed  on  the  outside. 

W  illiam  Hall.  Sr.,  was  the  contractor  who 
did  the  work,  as  he  was  the  lowest  bidder,  and 
agreed  to  have  the  building  completed  by  the 
first  Monday  in  A])ril  of  the  following  year.  He 
received  $110  as  full  remuneration  for  the  con¬ 
struction  of  the  building. 

In  the  early  part  of  1829  a  number  of  im¬ 
provements  were  added  to  this  building.  This 
was  in  the  stead  of  a  new  court  house,  the  erec¬ 
tion  of  which  had  been  seriously  talked  of  am' 
])lanned.  Hut  a  number  of  the  prominent  citi¬ 
zens  |)etitioned  for  “the  in-ocrastination  of  the 
building  of  the  court  house,"  for  the  following 
reasons : 

First. — ( )ne-fourth  of  the  whole  amount  of 
money  necessary  for  the  erection  of  the  pro¬ 
posed  building  was  not  on  hand  and  could  not 
be  secured. 

Second.- — The  “county  paper"  would  be 
])reciate  in  value  at  least  three-fourths,  “which 
would  in  a  measure  destroy  the  faith  of  the 
country,  and  most  probably  ruin  the  undertak¬ 
ers.” 

The  above  was  concluded  by  the  suggestion 
of  the  petitioners  that  the  commissioners,  to 
meet  the  growing  need  of  more  room  and 
greater  convenience,  “build  some  little  addition  : 
say,  to  build  a  shed  on  the  south  side  of  the 
])resent  court  house,  and  to  saw  out  the  logs  on 
the  south  side,  and  to  remove  the  judge's  bench 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


near  the  center  of  the  same."  The  i)raver  of 
the  petitioners  was  orranted.  the  "procrastination 
of  the  building"  was  submitted  to.  and  the  sug¬ 
gestion  was  acted  upon.  The  alterations  were 
made  by  J.  W  .  Johnson,  who  agreed  to  do  the 
work  for  $39.25.  In  this  connection  it  will  be 
interesting  to  read  a  petition,  signed  by  twentv- 
seven  men.  which  we  reproduce  below,  just  as 
it  was  written  nearly  seventy-two  years  ago  ; 

March  3d,  1829. 

"To  the  Honorable  County  Commission¬ 
ers  of  Shelby  county,  now  in  session  : 

"W’e,  the  under  sign'd  Citizens  of  Shelby 
county.  Ileg  leave  to  petition  your  honorable 
body,  that  you  make  such  allowance  to  J.  \V. 
Johnston  as  may  be  considered  the  actual  worth 
of  the  worke -and  labour  Done  on  the  court 
house,  and  likewise  for  all  other  Extra  work¬ 
over  and  above  what  his  bond  calls  for. 

"believing  as  we  do  that  the  Court  house 
was  let  out  considerably  lower  than  any  man 
could  afford  to  Do  the  work,  and  in  all  Cases 
where  Individuals  Do  work  for  the  public  in  a 
way  that  they  are  like  to  sink  money  that  should 
be  Remunerated  out  of  public  funds,  we  Rec¬ 
ommend  the  above  as  one  of  these  ver\-  Cases 
where  the  Individual  has  sunk  money  and  we 
Confidently  ho])e  that  your  honorable  body 
will  make  such  allowances  as  may  be  consid¬ 
ered  to  amount  to  the  actual  value  of  the  work- 
agreeable  to  the  Judgement  of  workmen." 

It  may  be  readily  surmised  that  the  ])rayer 
of  these  petitioners  was  granted,  for  in  those 
"good  old  days"  it  was  not  the  predominant 
policy  of  one  to  take  an  unjust  advantage  of 
another ;  but  kindly,  brotherlv  feeling  which 
l)revailed  ins])ired  them  to  render  unto  each 
other  that,  which,  in  their  unselfish  minds,  they 
deemed  right  and  just. 


SECOND  COCRT  HOL'SE. 

1  he  growing  need  for  more  offices  and  an 
enlarged  court  room,  soon  rendered  the  old 
building  inadecpiate,  and  in  1832  a  new  court 
house  was  erected,  according  to  the  following 
jilan.  which  we  produce  verbatim,  as  the  unique 
construction  of  words  and  sentences  may  be  of 
passing  interest : 

"The  form  of  a  Court  house  for  the  County 
of  Shelby.  Ill. 

"The  said  Court  house  to  be  40  feet  sipiare. 
bilt  of  brick  to  Commence  with  Rock  18  Inches 
under  ground,  and  raised  one  foot  above  the 
ground,  with  rock  well  hammer  Dressed  above 
the  ground;  the  walls  to  be  Twentv-three  feet 
high  aliove  the  ground,  with  Two  Dores  lower  in 
Storey,  and  Ten  Twenty-four  light  windows  in 
the  lower  Story,  and  Twelve  Eighteen  light 
windows  in  the  upper  storv.  The  lower  storv 
of  said  walls  to  be  Twenty-seven  inches  thick, 
and  the  upper  story  Eighteen  Inches  thick 
with  the  under  flower  laid  with  brick.  Each 
of  those  windows  to  be  filled  with  Fraim,  with 
Timber  Six  Inches  Square.  Dores  and  win¬ 
dows  with  iiannel.  Jams  and  jiannel  shutters  to 
each  Dore  and  a  post  set  in  the  centre  of  the 
house,  to  be  set  on  a  firm  pillow  of  rock  :  said 
post  to  be  comjdctely  Turned  in  a  workmanlike 
manner,  to  be  Eighteen  Inches  in  Diameter; 
and  one  girder,  forty  feet  long.  Twelve  by 
Fourteen  Inches  thick,  to  rest  on  that  post;  a 
set  of  Joists  for  the  second  lloor,  three  by  Ten 
Inches,  to  be  let  In  Two  feet  apart  from  centre 
to  centre;  the  second  floore  to  be  laid  of  oak 
plank,  Tounged  and  grooved  and  laid  down 
rough.  A  Second  girder  Ten  Inches  by  Ten. 
forty  feet  long;  a  Second  ])OSt  Twelve  Inch  in 
Diameter  turned  like  the  other  and  set  over  the 
other  post  for  the  Second  girder  to  rest  on.  A 


HIS  TORIC  SKT  TCH. 


Second  Set  of  Joists  tlie  same  size  of  tlie  other, 
3  hy  lo  Indies;  the  roof  to  he  siieeted  and 
sliingled,  witli  walnut  or  oak  shingles,  boxed 
and  eornished  all  round  jilain.  'I'he  walls  to  be 
plastered,  and  overhead  sealed  ;  the  windows  all 
to  have  venisian  blinds;  the  upper  story  to  split 
in  3  rooms  to  be  divided  with  jilank  petitions. 
1  wo  Chimneys  with  2  tire  jilaces  below  and  two 
above,  and  2  artificial  funnels  at  the  other  lind 
of  the  house,  all  to  be  done  in  workmanlike 
manner.  Allso  judges  Seat,  jury  box,  SherifF's 
box,  etc.,  etc." 

.\  eoujile  of  years  after  this  a  number  of 
alterations  and  additions  were  made,  a  few  of 
which  we  give: 

'I’he  judge's  bench  was  to  lie  nine  feet  long, 
and  three  feet,  six  inches  wide  on  the  floor; 
with  a  writing  board  three  feet  long  and  eigh¬ 
teen  inches  wide.  'I'he  Clerk's  desk  was  made 
three  feet,  six  inches  long,  and  two  feet  six 
inches  wide,  with  twenty-six  iiigeon  holes  in¬ 
closed  with  a  desk  lid  door.  Six  jur\'  benches 
were  built,  each  tv\  elve  feet  long.  'I'here  were  also 
constructed  a  sheriff’s  box  in  each  of  two  cor¬ 
ners  of  the  bar,  three  feet  by  three  feet  in  the 
clear,  with  a  suitable  writing  board  for  each. 

I  he  criminals’  box  was  made  four  feet  S(|uare 
in  the  clear,  'fhe  whole  cost  of  the  improve¬ 
ments  on  the  building  was  six  lumdred  nineteen 
dollars,  and  the  work  was  satisfactorily  accom- 
plished  b\  Nelson  R.  Jones.  In  1837  a  neat 
cu])ola  was  added,  which  improved  the  a])|)ear- 
ance  of  the  building  to  a  great  extent.  This 
court  house  served  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
erected,  very  nicely  for  about  thirty  years,  when 
it  was  deemed  advisable  by  many  interested  par¬ 
ties,  to  build  a  larger  and  more  substantial 
building,  which  would  more  nearly  meet  the  de¬ 
mands  of  the  county’s  business.  In  accordance 
with  this  very  general  opinion  efforts  were  made 


to  secure  an  ai)propriation  for  that  purpose;  but 
all  movements  in  that  direction  proved  futile 
until  in  July  of  1879,  when  the  board  of  super¬ 
visors,  who  had  heretofore  been  conservative, 
yielded  to  the  popular  demand  and  made  the 
appropriation  necessary  to  build  the  jiresent 
beautiful  structure.  \\  e  a])pcnd  the  following 
record  of  their  official  action,  which  imide  pos¬ 
sible  the 

TIIIKI)  COl'RT  llOl'SK. 

(  )n  the  3d  of  July,  1879,  Supervisor  W.  ( ). 
Robertson  cjffered  the  following  resolution  ; 

"Resolved,  '1  hat  it  is  here!)}'  deemed  expedi¬ 
ent,  because  of  the  dilapidated  and  unsafe  con¬ 
dition  of  the  present  county  building,  to  build 
a  new  court  house  in  and  for  Shelby  county,  not 
to  exceed  in  cost  the  sum  of  seventy  thou.sand 
dollars  ($70,000),  and 

"Resolved,  'I  hat  a  committee  of  members 
of  this  board  be,  and  the  same  are  constituted 
a  building  committee,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
hx  upon  and  procure  a  site  for  such  court  house, 
to  ado])t  plans  and  specifications  for  the  same, 
not  to  exceed  said  cost,  and  to  rejiort  their  pro¬ 
ceedings  herein  to  this  board,  subject  to  its 
ai)])roval  at  their  meeting  in  September  next ; 
and 

"Resolved,  That  William  M.  W  right,  Har¬ 
mon  Kelley,  Skelton  Rirkett,  Nelson  Neil,  W. 
A.  Carlisle  be  and  are  hereby  ai)pointed  said 
building  committee.” 

This  was  ado])ted  by  a  vote  of  twelve  for, 
only  seven  voting  against  it. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  in  September, 
the  following  resolution  was  ]wo])osed  by  Super¬ 
visor  Hillard,  and  adopted  : 

“Resolved,  That  the  sum  (jf  seventx'  thou¬ 
sand  dollars  ($70,000)  be  and  the  same  is  herebv 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


appropriated  for  tlie  purpose  of  erecting  a  court 
house  in  the  city  of  Shelhyville,  in  Shelby  coun¬ 
ty,  Illinois,  and 

“Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  twenty-five 
cents  upon  each  one  hundred  dollars’  worth  of 
real  estate  and  personal  property  in  said  county 
as  assessed  for  the  year  1879,  and  equalized  by 
the  State  Hoard  of  Ecpialization  for  said  year, 
be  and  the  same  is  hereby  levied  for  the  pur- 
])ose  of  raising  a  fund  to  carry  out  the  objects 
of  the  said  appropriation  ;  and  that  the  clerk  of 
the  county  court  be  and  is  hereby  ordered  to 
com])ute  and  extend  upon  the  tax  collectors' 
books  of  said  county  for  the  year  1879.  the  levy 
of  twenty-five  cents  aforesaid  against  all  the 
real  estate  and  personal  ])roperty  of  said  county, 
and  that  the  said  levy  of  twenty-five  cents  on 
the  one  hundred  dollars  be  extended  under  the 
heading  of  "Court  House  Tax,"  and  that  the 
same,  when  collected,  shall  by  the  county  treas¬ 
urer  be  kei)t  as  a  separate  fund  for  the  puri)oses 
for  which  the  .same  is  levied." 

L’nder  this  resolution,  the  amount  of  money 
raised  for  1879  was  $i().900.o6. 

The  limit  of  time  for  the  conq)letion  of  the 
budding  was  December  ist,  1881.  This  made 
prom])t  action  necessary  upon  the  jjart  of  the 
building  committee.  In  the  selection  of  this 
committee  a  wise  choice  had  been  made,  and 
the  men  who  composed  it  were  found  equal  to 
the  task  before  them.  Hon  Win.  M.  \\  'right, 
chairman,  made  the  following  rejiiirt  to  the 
board,  it  was  adopted,  and,  in  accordance  with 
the  plans,  specifications,  etc.,  contained  therein, 
the  work  upon  the  magnificent  new  court  house 
was  soon  in  progress. 

REPORT  ()E  HLHEDIXG  COMMITTEE. 

W  hereas.  The  honorable  board  of  super¬ 
visors  of  Shelbv  countv.  State  of  Illinois,  re¬ 


solved  to  build  a  court  house  for  sai<l  county, 
proceeded  to  a])point  the  following  gentlemen, 
a  committee  to  procure  and  locate  a  site  and 
adopt  a  plan  for  said  court  house,  viz;  Win. 
M.  Wright,  Harmon  Kelley.  Skelton  Hirkett. 
Xelson  Xeil,  and  \\  .  A.  Carlisle. 

“The  comnnttee,  after  mature  considera¬ 
tion,  located  the  site  for  said  new  court  house 
on  the  original  court  house  S(|uare,  to  be  built 
on  a  line  of  Main  street,  north  of  the  present  old 
court  house. 

“Said  new  court  house  to  be  constructed 
on  the  following  general  plans  and  specifica¬ 
tions,  viz :  The  size  of  said  building  to  be 
seventv-six  (76)  by  one  hundred  and  ten  (iio) 
feet,  fronting  to  the  south,  with  basement  and 
two  floors  above  basement — with  twelve  foot 
hall  through  full  length  of  building,  from  front 
entrance  to  rear  entrance,  on  the  first  floor ; 
said  first  floor  to  be  so  constructed  as  to  ac¬ 
commodate  the  circuit  clerk,  county  clerk,  ])ro- 
bate  court,  sheriff,  county  treasurer,  school 
commissioner,  and  county  court ;  the  second 
floor  to  be  so  constructed  as  to  accommodate 
the  circuit  court,  sui)ervisors.  grand  jury,  petit 
jurv,  witness-room,  judge’s  private  room,  law- 
vers’  consultation  room,  and  such  other  rooms 
as  space  may  ])ermit. 

"The  floors  are  to  be  reached  by  front 
stairways :  the  circuit  court  room,  petit  jury 
room,  and  other  private  rooms  on  the  second 
floor,  to  be  reached  by  private  stairways  in  the 
rear  of  the  building.  The  water  closets  to  be 
located  in  the  basement.  The  gas  pipes,  steam 
pipes  and  water  pijies  to  be  jilaced  in  the  con¬ 
struction  of  the  building;  fire  places  to  be  in  all 
the  rooms  ;  to  be  heated  by  steam  ;  boilers  to  be 
erected  outside  of  main  building ;  jiroiier  and 
sufficient  sewerage  to  be  constructed. 


19 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


"I'he.  whole  Ijuildinji^  to  l)e  tire-proof;  to  l)e 
built  of  stone,  brick  (pressed  brick),  and  iron; 
all  the  floors  to  be  of  tile  or  marble  :  a  bnrglar- 
proof  vault  to  be  constructed  in  the  office  of  the 
treasurer.  'I'he  whole  not  to  e.xceed  seventy 
thousand  dollars  in  cost.  'I'lie  stone  to  be  used 
in  said  buildinj^  to  be  procured  in  Illinois,  Mis¬ 
souri,  or  Indiana,  or  from  either  or  all  of  said 
Str.tes,  as  may  be  most  jiractical. 

"Resolved,  'I'hat  the  above  ])lan  and  j^en- 
eral  specifications  be  submitted  to  five  compe¬ 
tent  architects,  to  be  selected  by  the  committee  : 
that  a  iiremium  of  three  hundred  dollars 
($300)  be  offered  to  the  aforesaid  comiieting  ar¬ 
chitects,  for  the  best  set  of  drawing's  for  the 
pro])osed  new  court  house,  which  shall  be  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  the  above  named  i>lan.  Such 
drawings  shall  include  a  correct  view,  in  per- 
sjiective,  of  such  new  building,  from  a  point 
southwest  of  said  building. 

"Said  drawings  shall  include  full,  complete 
and  accurate  plans  of  such  new  building,  in  all 
])arts  showing  all  the  necessary  details  of  the 
w(n'k,  together  with  working  plans  suitable  for 
the  use  of  mechanics  or  other  builders,  during 
the  construction  thereof,  so  drawn  and  repre¬ 
sented  as  to  be  easily  understood  ;  and  also  ac¬ 
curate  bills  showing  the  exact  amount  of  all  the 
different  kinds  of  material  to  be  used  in  the  erec¬ 
tion  thereof,  to  accong^any  said  i)lans  ;  and  also 
full  and  complete  specifications  of  the  work  to 
be  done,  showing  the  manner  and  style  in  which 
the  same  will  be  required  to  be  done,  and  giving 
such  directions  for  the  same  as  wall  enable  any 
competent  builder  to  carry  them  out,  and  afford 
to  bidders  all  needful  information  to  enable 
them  to  understand  what  will  be  required  in  the 
construction  of  said  building,  and  make  a  full, 
accurate  and  complete  estimate  of  each  item  of 


expense,  and  the  entire  aggregate  cost  of  said 
ct)urt  house  when  completed. 

Provided,  however,  'I'hat  the  working 
])lans  above  referred  to  and  the  bill  sbowing  the 
exact  amount  of  the  material  to  be  used,  and 
also  the  full  and  com])lete  s])ecifications  of  the 
work  to  be  done,  showing  the  manner  and  style 
of  the  same,  and  giving  such  directions  as  will 
enable  any  builder  to  carry  them  out,  and  afford 
bidders  all  information  above  referred  to,  shall 
not  be  required  to  be  made  out  and  furnished 
until  after  the  award  t)f  the  aforesaid  premium 
shall  be  decided  by  the  board  of  sui)ervisors 
and  that  after  such  decision,  the  successful  com- 
jietitor  shall  immediately  proceed  to  complete 
the  same  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  this 
resolution,  and  said  jiremium  of  three  hundred 
dollars  {$300)  shall  be  advanced  to  such  success¬ 
ful  conqietitor,  and  shall  be  deducted  from  a 
compensation  to  be  allowed  him  of  five  per  cen¬ 
tum  upon  the  aggregate  cost  of  .said  building; 
upon  the  execution  by  and  between  him  and  the 
board  of  supervisors,  of  a  contract  prescribing 
his  duties,  obligations,  and  compensation  as 
siqiervising  architect  of  said  building,  and  the 
execution  of  a  proper  bond,  with  acceptable  se¬ 
curity,  to  the  board  of  supervisors  in  such 
amount  as  may  be  by  them  prescribed,  not  ex¬ 
ceeding  ten  thousand  dollars  ($10,000)  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties,  as  such  super¬ 
vising  architect,  in  the  erection  of  said  build¬ 
ing  in  accordance  with  the  plans  and  si)ecifica- 
tions  thereof  adopted. 

"Resolved.  That  the  drawings  as  submit¬ 
ted  must  be  furnished  by  the  tenth  day  of  Sej)- 
tember,  1879.  must  be  accompanied  by  esti¬ 
mates  of  all  the  work  and  material  necessary  in 
the  construction  of  the  proposed  building, 
made  sufficiently  in  detail  to  enable  the  board  of 
supervisors  to  verify  them,  and  approximate 


20 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


closely  to  the  probable  cost,  and  accuracy  in 
detail  in  this  respect  will  be  regarded  as  im¬ 
portant  in  determining  the  award  of  the  pre¬ 
miums. 

“Resolved,  That  a  premium  of  one  hun¬ 
dred  and  fifty  dollars  ($150)  shall  be  awarded  and 
paid  to  the  drawings  and  elevations  second  in 
merit,  the  board  of  supervisors  reserving  the 
right  to  use  any  part  of  said  plans  and  specifica¬ 
tions  of  second  merit,  for  and  in  consideration 
of  said  award  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
($150). 

“Shelby ville,  Illinois,  August  8,  1879. 

“WAl.  n.  WRIGHT. 
“HAR.MOX  KELLFA’. 
Signed.  “SKELTOX  lURKETT.  Sr. 
“XELvSOX  XEIL. 

“W.  A.  CARLISLE.” 

Refore  the  completion  of  the  work  of  this 
committee,  death  claimed  W.  .\.  Carlisle,  and 
the  vacancy  thus  created  was  filled  by  the  ap- 
Iiointment  of  T.  J.  Graybill.  as  the  fifth  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  committee. 

A  more  detailed  description  of  the  be.'iutiful 
structure,  which  is  now  the  county  capitol,  will 
be  of  interest,  even  though  it  may  have  been 
viewed  rejieatedly  by  very  many  of  our  readers. 

Mr.  ().  H.  Rlacey,  of  Chicago,  was  the  suc¬ 
cessful  com])etitor  among  the  architects,  and  it 
was  upon  his  ])lans  and  specifications  that 
'Phomas  and  Hugh  Caldwell,  of  ( )ttawa.  Ill., 
erected  the  court  house  which  is  so  ])lea.sing  to 
the  eye,  and  a  source  of  pride  to  the  citizens  of 
Shelby. 

The  building  is  rectangular  in  .sha])e,  being 
I  10  feet  in  length  from  north  to  south,  and  76 
feet  wide.  The  height  from  the  ground  to  the 
cornice  is  58  feet,  while  the  height  to  the  ajiex 
of  the  dome  is  124  feet.  .Above  the  eave,  one  on 
each  corner,  are  four  magnificent  pavilions. 


each  one  being  16  feet  scpiare  and  16  feet  high, 
d'hese  add  largely  to  the  pleasing  effect  of  the 
entire  structure.  The  pavilions  and  dome  are 
constructed  of  iron  and  brick,  and  are  sur¬ 
mounted  by  artistically  designed  iron  castings. 
The  main  part  of  the  outside  finish  of  the  build¬ 
ing  is  of  St.  Louis  pressed  brick,  with  Redford 
and  Joliet  trimmings  of  stone.  Galvanized  iron 
form  the  cornices.  The  basement  is  most  sub¬ 
stantial.  being  all  stone,  with  floors  of  marble 
tiling,  laid  on  solid  masonry  and  girders  of  iron. 

Rroad,  handsome  stone  ste])s  ap])roach  the 
southern  entrance,  which  is  the  principal  one 
to  the  court  house,  there  being  another  at  tlie 
north.  ( )n  the  east  side  of  the  broad  hall  are 
the  offices  of  the  county  judge,  county  clerk, 
treasurer  and  sheriff,  while  ui)on  the  west  side 
are  those  of  the  circuit  clerk,  superintendent  ol 
schools  and  master  in  chancery.  In  the  base¬ 
ment  are  storage  rooms  for  old  official  records 
and  documents,  and  the  abstract  offices  of  Craig 
X-  I  laris. 

Four  columns  of  stone,  of  handsome  and 
elegant  pattern,  sujiport  the  pediments.  The 
bases  and  capitols  are  of  Redford  stone,  while 
the  shafts  are  of  Joliet  stone:  the  height  of  each 
column,  base  and  capitol  inclusive,  is  twenty- 
three  feel.  The  front  ])ediment  rests  upon  eight 
columns,  and  has  a  greater  projection  than  those 
on  the  side.  Statues  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty 
and  of  Justice  occupy  niches  on  the  south  side 
of  the  second  story. 

Great  credit  is  due  to  the  men  who  were 
the  prime  movers  in  the  erection  of  this  beauti¬ 
ful  and  valuable  structure.  .As  chairman  of  the 
building  committee,  Hon.  Wm.  M.  A'right  gave 
much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  the  work,  and 
though  other  members  of  the  committee  should 
receive  proper  credit,  still  to  Air.  W  right  be¬ 
longs  the  “lion's  share."  Few  counties  in  the 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


State  of  Illinois  can  boast  of  a  more  l)eautifnl, 
substantial  and  conveniently  arranged  court 
house  than  that  which  stands  in  Shelbyville. 

FIRST  OAOL. 

It  is  a  matter  greatly  to  be  deplored  that 
the  criminal  element  entered  into  fair  Shelby, 
making^  necessary  the  erection  of  the  penal  in¬ 
stitution,  of  which  we  now  speak.  ISut  so  it  is, 
the  wide  world  o'er,  and  very  early  in  the  his¬ 
tory  of  our  county  it  was  deemed  necessary  to 
provide  a  i)lace  for  the  safe-keei)ing  and  i)un- 
ishment  of  the  lawless  ones.  .\t  the  beginning 
of  182P  the  county  commissioners  ordered  the 
building  of  a  jail  on  lot  eight,  block  number 
one,  of  Shelbyville,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
description  ; 

The  timbers  entering  into  the  construction 
of  the  walls  were  well  hewed,  eight  inches  thick, 
with  the  edges  scjuared,  that  they  might  fit  to¬ 
gether  nicely.  The  building  was  thirteen  feet 
six  inches  in  length,  and  the  same  in  breadth, 
there-by  making  of  it  a  square  enclosure.  The 
lower  floor  was  let  into  the  ground  about  twelve 
inches,  and  from  this  foundation  to  the  eaves  of 
the  ro(jf  was  about  sixteen  feet,  thereby  making 
it  ])OSsibL'  to  have  two  stories,  each  of  about 
eight  feet  in  height.  The  gable  ends  were 
weatherboarded,  and  the  roof  shingled.  The 
lower  part  of  the  structure  was  composed  of  a 
double  wall,  with  a  space  of  ten  inches  between, 
into  which  were  put  upright  poles,  shaved 
smooth  and  placed  closely  together.  The  ceil¬ 
ing  of  the  second  story  consisted  of  scpiared 
timbers,  six  inches  thick,  laid  closely  together. 
Two  windows  only  furnished  light  for  the  lower 
story,  one  at  the  north  and  the  other  at  the 
south,  and  were  four  and  one-half  feet  from  the 
ground.  There  were  also  but  two  windows  in 


the  upper  story,  small  affairs,  being  only  twelve 
by  six  inches:  but  they  were  made  secure  by 
grates  and  iron  bars  one  inch  in  thickness  and 
three  inches  apart.  In  the  upper  story  was  a 
door  two  feet  wide  and  four  feet  high  and  a 
trap  door  in  the  middle  of  the  second  floor,  two 
b\  three  feet  in  size.  Crude  as  this  may  seem 
to  us  in  this,  the  last  year  of  the  century,  still 
that  little  jail  answered  every  pmqiose  for  which 
it  was  erected,  as  well  as  do  the  massive  stone 
structures  now  built  for  like  pui'ixises.  J.  \\'. 
Johuson  was  the  builder  of  the  above,  which 
was  conqileted  according  to  contract  early  in 
the  year  1830. 

■After  about  nine  years  of  use.  however,  this 
first  jail  was  found  to  be  inadeipiatc  for  the  re- 
(piiremcnts  of  the  county,  and  at  the  Sejitem- 
ber  term  of  court,  1839,  a  contract  was  entered 
into  with  John  Stone  and  Samuel  Wilson,  to 
erect  u])on  the  site  of  the  first  jail, 

c.AOL  xcmi’.f:k  two. 

'I'liis  new  building  was  also  constructed  of 
hewn  logs  and  was  twenty-two  feet  long  by 
fourteen  feet  wide.  It  was  comjiosed  of  double 
walls,  built  one  foot  apart.  This  aperture  was 
filled  with  upright  timbers  one  foot  square.  A 
])artition  was  placed  through  the  centre  of  the 
building,  making  two  rooms  on  each  floor. 
Each  room  had  one  window,  which  was  secure¬ 
ly  barred.  A  trap  door  was  placed  iii  the  centre 
of  the  upper  floor,  which  was  two  feet  by  two 
and  one-half,  and  strongly  bound  with  iron. 
The  outer  door  to  the  lower  story  was  secured 
by  iron  bolts,  jail  lock,  and  spiked  with  iron 
spikes  about  two  inches  apart,  making  it  im¬ 
possible  for  a  prisoner  to  cut  his  way  through 
even  though  he  should  be  possessed  of  a  good 
knife. 


22 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


l’>y  the  side  of  this  buildiii",  and  of  the 
same  heij^ht  and  under  the  same  shinj^le  roof, 
was  erected  a  frame  jailor's  residence,  twenty- 
two  feet  long-  l)y  twenty  feet  wide.  It  was 
weatlier-l'oarded  and  had  one  door  in  the  south 
side,  with  a  window  each  side  of  the  door,  and 
two  windows  in  tlie  west  side.  These  were 
twelve-lig^ht  windows,  with  8  hy  lo  f^lass,  quite 
a  contrast  to  those  in  the  jail  building.  .\  par¬ 
tition  crossed  the  frame  huildin",  with  a  door 
in  the  same.  The  floors  were  of  plank.  Stair 
ste])s  were  built,  commencing  at  the  partition 
of  the  log'  building,  between  the  log  wall  and 
said  partition,  running  north  u|)  to  the  ui)per 
door  of  the  log  building,  the  steps  reaching  from 
the  wall  to  the  ])artition.  A  brick  chimney  stood 
on  the  north  of  the  building,  connecting  with 
one  fireplace  below.  The  whole  was  built  of 
durable  timber,  completed  in  1840.  and  for 

which  the  contractors  received  $745.00. 

( 

('.AOL  XlTMllER  THREE. 

In  1856  W  illiam  Hidden  received  the  con¬ 
tract  for  building  this  jail,  and  comi)leted  it  m 
the  following  year,  the  cost  of  which  was  nearly 
$5,000.  It  was  a  two-story  brick  building, 
twenty-eight  feet  wide  by  thirty-eight  feet  long, 
and  consisted  of  a  jailor’s  residence  of  four 
rooms,  a  debtor's  cell,  four  single,  wooden  cells, 
with  iron  doors,  and  four  doubde  iron  cells.  The 
cells  were  in  the  up|)er  story  of  the  huilding,  with 
a  hallway  or  corridor  of  about  four  feet  in  width 
on  both  the  north  and  south  sides,  with  a  nar¬ 
row  passage  connecting  the  two  corridors  on 
the  west  side  of  the  building.  Six  windows 
were  on  the  north  side,  five  on  the  west,  and 
five  on  the  south,  with  one  door  to  the  west, 
another  to  the  east,  and  one  on  the  south. 

Seven  years  after  the  erection  of  this  build¬ 
ing,  a  contract  was  given  Samuel  Rector,  the 


reciuirements  of  which  were  that  he  should  en¬ 
case  the  four  wooden  cells  with  boiler  iron. 
'1  hese  cells  were  seven  feet  scpiare  by  si.x  and 
one-half  feet  high.  This  alteration  added  $3,000 
to  the  original  cost  of  the  jail,  which  was  $4,- 
q8(;.46,  making  the  entire  cost  to  the  county 
$7.<;89.46. 

THE  I'RESEXT  GA(  )L. 

The  building  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
paragraph  was  deemed  suitable  for  the  needs  of 
the  county  for  a  number  of  years,  but  later,  many 
complaints  were  heard  regarding  its  insufficient 
ventilation,  and  its  unsafe  condition.  The  pre¬ 
dominating  sentiment  on  the  board  of  supervi¬ 
sors.  and  amongst  others  who  were  interested  in 
the  matter,  was  that  a  new  jail  was  needed  :  and 
as  a  result  of  this  wide-s])read  sentiment,  the 
following  resolution  was  presented  in  the  Sep¬ 
tember.  1891.  meeting  of  the  board  of  super¬ 
visors  : 

"Resolved  by  this  Hoard.  That  the  chair 
ap])oint  a  committee  of  three  memhers  of  this 
board,  with  the  clerk  of  this  board  to  visit  and 
investigate  some  of  the  modern  jails  in  this  or 
adjoining  states,  and  ascertain  as  near  as  can  be 
the  best  plans  and  probable  cost  of  same,  with 
a  view  to  the  erection  of  a  jail  in  this  county, 
and  the  said  committee  re|)ort  at  the  January. 
1892,  meeting  of  the  board.” 

It  may  be  determined  from  this  and  the  fol¬ 
lowing  documents,  which  we  transcribe  from 
the  official  records,  that  no  efforts  were  spared 
to  secure  for  the  county  a  jail  which  would  be 
among  the  best  procurable.  That  which  im¬ 
mediately  follows  is  the 

REPORT  OF  GRAXD  IL’RV 


of  the  October.  1891.  term  of  circuit  court,  and 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


presented  to  the  board  of  sui)ervisors  at  their 
nieetins>'  in  tlie  followini^  January: 

“To  tlie  Honorable  James  Creij^liton,  Circuit 
Jnds;e,  Sir: 

"W  e,  tlie  nndersif^ned  <^rand  jurors,  at  tlie 
(  Ictoher  term  of  the  circuit  court,  .\,  I).  1891, 
would  res])ectfnlly  represent  that  we  have  visited 
the  county  jail  in  a  body,  and  after  a  careful  in¬ 
spection  of  the  same,  do  hereby  rejiort  the  con¬ 
dition,  as  follows,  to-wit  : 

"W’e  find  the  jail  neatly  whitewashed,  and 
the  jailor  has  everythini,^'  in  as  "ood  condition  as 
can  he  made  under  the  circumstances,  W’e  find 
the  jail  to  he  an  old,  dilapidated  structure,  seem¬ 
ingly  constructed  in  an  early  stage  of  the  world  ; 
and  we  find  that  the  prisoners  are  insecure,  and 
the  jail  is  unsafe,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  old 
board  sheds,  belonging  to  the  livery  stables,  are 
connected  with  the  jail  on  the  east :  and  we  find 
that  the  old  sheds  and  seemingly  cow  stables, 
are  all  attached  to  or  in  some  way  connecting 
with  the  jail :  and  we  find  that  the  old  buildings 
thus  connected  with  the  jail,  together  with  the 
had  ventilation,  creates  a  terrible  stench,  which 
we  believe  to  he  unwholesome.  And  we  are  of 
the  opinion  that  the  old  sheds  and  boards  are 
extremely  liable  to  take  fire  at  any  time,  in  which 
event  the  inmates  would  ]ierish  before  they 
could  be  removed. 

"W’e,  therefore,  earnestly  recommend  the 
honorable  hoard  of  supervisors,  at  their  next 
meeting,  to  make  the  necessary  appropriation 
to  build  a  new  county  jail,  and  to  proceed  to 
build  and  complete  the  same  as  soon  as  can  be 
done ;  and  until  such  new  jail  is  built,  we  would 
recommend  the  sheriff,  especially  in  hot  weather, 
to  remove  all  persons  to  some  other  county 
jail,  owing  to  the  unwholesome  ventilation  and 
the  terrible  stench,  which  is  equal  to  the  stench 
of  a  menagerie  of  wild  beasts. 


"And  we  further  rejiurt  h)-  saying  that  we 
consider  the  county  jail  as  being,  in  very  bad  re- 
])air,  and  not  worth  repairing,  and  we  declare  it 
a  public  nuisance.” 

'I'his  re])ort  was  well  calculated  to  agitate 
to  a  greater  degree  the  feasibility  and  necessity 
of  a  new  ])lace  of  confinement  for  the  criminal 
cIess,  and  the  board  of  siqiervisors  could  not 
well  do  otherwise  than  entertain  and  adopt,  at 
its  January.  1892,  meeting,  the  following 

RKSOIA'TIOX  To  lU'IlJ)  .\  XIAV  JAIL. 

"Whereas,  the  jiresent  comity  jail  is  unsafe 
and  insecure  for  the  detention  of  prisoners,  and 
the  impro])er  construction  of  the  building,  its 
ceilings,  insufficient  ventilation,  and  other  de¬ 
fects,  are  circumstances  which  are  considered  to 
be  injurious  to  the  health  of  its  inmates; 

W  e,  therefore,  consider  it  to  he  exjiedient 
and  necessary  to  build  a  new  jan,  that  is  ade- 
(|uate  and  in  conformity  with  the  needs  of  this 
county. 

d'herefore,  be  it  Resolved,  To  build  a  new 
jail  of  modern  design,  with  latest  improvements, 
at  a  cost  that  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  $12.- 
000,  and  that  we  appoint  a  committee  of  five 
members  of  this  board  as  a  building  committee. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  committee  to 
choose  and  fix  upon  a  site  for  such  jail,  and  to 
oL'tain  plans  and  specifications  for  the  same, 
the  cost  not  to  exceed  the  sum  above  mentioned, 
and  then  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  the 
hoard  of  supervisors.” 

Upon  motion  of  C.  W.  Stewart  the  above 
resolution  was  adopted,  and  the  chairman  ap¬ 
pointed  the  following  named  gentlemen  to  act 
as  building  committee  : 

C.  W'h  Stewart,  Samuel  Fuget.  Ik  F.  Mober- 
ly,  James  Rarton  and  Solomon  Yantis. 


24 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Supervisor  Stewart  then  presented  the  fol¬ 
lowing-  resolution,  which  was  nnanimonsly 
adopted  : 

“lie  it  resolved  by  this  hoard,  that  an  ap¬ 
propriation  he  and  the  same  is  hereby  made  of 
$12, coo,  to  hnild  a  county  jail.” 

The  amount  thus  provided  was  sufficient  to 
cover  the  cost  of  the  handsome  and  commodious 
structure  of  modern  architecture,  now  used  for 
jail  and  sheriff's  residence. 

That  ])ortion  of  the  building  used  as  a 
dwelling  1)\  the  family  of  the  sheriff,  contains 
seven  large  rooms,  four  below  and  three  above. 
In  addition  to  these,  there  is  a  basement  of 
three  rooms,  besides  the  boiler  room  ;  and  an  at¬ 
tic,  which,  however,  is  not  used.  The  doors  of 
the  basement  rooms  are  of  brick  and  concrete. 
The  foundation  is  of  stone,  and  the  walls  of 
])ressed  brick,  as,  indeed,  are  the  walls  of  the 
entire  structure.  The  hath  and  toilet  room  is 
on  the  second  door,  and  hot  and  cold  water  is 
snjjplied  both  up  stairs  and  down.  The  entire 
building  is  heated  by  steam  radiators  being 
])laced  in  each  of  the  rooms.  In  two  of  the 
rooms  of  the  drst  door  there  are  grates,  which 
add  to  the  comfort  of  the  home  during  the  cool¬ 
ness  of  the  spring  and  autumn,  when  the  fur¬ 
nace  is  not  in  use.  And  even  wlien  -heat  is  su])- 
])lied  from  some  other  source  a  grate  fire  can 
never  he  sui)])lanted  by  any  modern  device,  in 
point  of  homely  cheeriness.  ’ 

The  entrance  to  the  sheriff's  residence  is 
found  on  the  south  side,  ojiening  from  a  broad 
and  pleasant  veranda  into  a  si)acious  hallway, 
from  which  doorways  lead  into  the  i)arlor  and 
into  the  dining  room,  and  from  which  a 
stairway  leads  to  the  rooms  on  the  second  door. 
.Another  short  ])as.sage  way  leads  from  dining 
room  to  kitchen,  which  latter  is  within  the  jail, 
])roj)er.  .\  good  i)antry  is  between  the  two.  On 


the  south  side  of  the  residence  portion  of  the 
building,  are  nine  windows  and  one  door  ;  dve 
windows  on  the  east,  and  on  the  west  side,  three 
windows. 

The  inside  walls  of  the  jail  are  made  of  iron, 
covered  with  plaster,  and  are  considered  dre 
proof.  The  foundations  are  of  concrete.  The 
entrance  is  on  the  west  side,  and  is  well  guarded 
with  double  doors  of  steel,  with  round  iron  bars 
on  the  outside.  The  entrance  is  ai)i)roached  by 
a  walk  and  steps  of  concrete,  and,  in  itself,  has 
a  concrete  floor.  From  this  little  room  a  stair¬ 
way  leads  to  the  basement,  and  another,  with 
iron  ste])s.  to  the  second  floor.  The  most  com¬ 
monly  use<l  jiortion  of  the  jail  is  that  on  the 
first  door,  where  there  are  six  steel  cages,  one 
of  which  is  used  as  hath  room  and  closet.  These 
cages  are  about  eight  feet  high,  and  the  doors 
secured  by  patent  locks — a  j)erpendicular  bar 
running  from  the  top  to  the  botton  of  each,  and 
worked  by  levers  at  one  side,  lly  this  means 
it  is  possible  to  secure  each  door  without  ap¬ 
proaching  it.  In  addition  to  these  bars.  i)ad- 
locks  are  used  as  an  extra  precaution.  The 
cages  are  arranged  in  double  rows,  three  in  each 
row.  lletween  them  and  the  outer  wall  of  the 
large  room  in  which  they  are  placed,  is  a  corri¬ 
dor  about  four  feet  in  width,  and  one  about  eight 
feet  wide  running  between  the  two  rows,  and 
from  which  the  cages  are  entered.  The  mate¬ 
rial  used  in  the  construction  of  these  cages,  is 
.saw  and  file  proof. 

( )n  the  second  floor,  immediately  over  the 
kitchen  and  entrance,  are  four  cells  of  common 
iron,  two  on  each  side  of  a  passage  way  about 
six  feet  wide.  ( )ne  of  these  is  used  as  a  bath 
room,  and  in  each  one  is  found  the  recpiisite 
toilet  appliances.  The  floors  of  these  cells,  and 
tliat  of  the  corridor,  are  of  concrete.  In  each  of 
these  cells  there  is  a  window,  guarded  securely 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


by  a  double  set  of  bars,  those  inside  beiiii^  round, 
and  tlie  outer  ones  beiiif^’  Hat.  'I'he  i)reeaution  of 
the  extra  l)ars  was  made  necessary  by  several 
almost  successful  attem])ts  of  ])risoners.  to  es- 
eai)e.  The  larjje  room  on  the  second  door  is  of 
the  same  dimensions  as  that  in  which  the  ca^es 
are  built,  heK)w  :  and  it  is  so  constructed  as  to 
make  it  possible  to  add  a  like  number  of  cajjes. 
as  necessity  demands  them.  It  has  an  iron  door, 
with  the  ])arts,  which  would  com])rise  the  doors 
of  the  cajjes,  if  they  were  built,  of  steel.  ’I'liere 
are  three  windows  upon  each  of  the  east  and 
west  sides  of  the  jail,  and  one  on  the  north,  both 
above  and  below.  These  are  securely  j^uarded 
by  round  iron  bars,  and  outside  of  them,  by 
])erforated  iron  shutters,  thereby  makinj^  it  im- 
])ossible  for  friends  of  ])risoners  to  pass  any  arti¬ 
cles  to  them,  by  which  they  mijjht  s^ain  their 
freedom. 

•Altogether,  this  jail  is  strong  and  substantial, 
handsome  of  design,  and  is  to  be  placed  in  the 
front  rank  of  count)’  jails  throughout  the  state. 
Sheriff  Miner  and  his  able  assistants  kee])  it 
cleanly  and  in  ])erfect  order,  aim  those  who  are 
so  unfortunate  as  to  be  condned  within  its  walls 
have  no  cause  for  complaint  in  the  matter  of 
kindly  care  and  provision  for  bodily  needs,  and 
in  comfortable  accommodations.  Following  is 

KEFORT  OF  111'IL1)1X(',  COMMITTEE. 

January  3,  1893. 

"Mr.  Chairman  and  (lentlemen  of  Hoard  of 
Su])ervisors  : 

"Your  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
matter  of  contracting  for  the  erection  of  the 
county  jail  and  sheriff's  residence,  according  to 
the  ])lans  and  specifications,  would  beg  leave 
to  submit  the  following  report  on  the  matters 
before  them  : 


"W’e  met  on  the  14th  of  March,  1892,  and 
let  the  contract  for  erection  of  the  county  jail 
and  sheriff's  residence  exclusive  of  steam  heat¬ 
ing.  to  the  Cham|)ion  Iron  comiiany.  of  Kenton, 
( )hio,  for  the  sum  of  eleven  thousand  and  nine 
hundred  and  fifty-two  dollars.  .At  the  same 
time  we  let  the  contract  of  steam  heating  to  |. 
I’).  Herrington,  of  Shelby ville,  Illinois,  for  the 
sum  of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

"The  contractors  repcu't  the  work  complete, 
and  ready  to  be  received,  by  the  county  board, 
and  we  would  recommend  that  the  board  take 
action  on  the  matter,  as  it  is  verv  exiiensive  as 
it  is  now. 

"W'e  would  further  rejairt  that  we  met  on 
March  28,  1892,  and  sold  the  old  jail  and  out 
buildings  at  ])ublic  auction,  for  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  twent)’  dollars  and  seventv-fix’e 
cents,  which  anujunt  was  dul\  turned  in  to 
county  treasurer." 

(  )n  January  4.  1893,  the  new  jail  was  in¬ 
spected.  accepted,  and  taken  possession  of. 

I’OOk  F.ARM. 

\\  e  have  stated  in  the  j^revious  pages  that 
Shelby  county  is  rich  in  farm  |)roducts,  and  with 
the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life,  and  that  her 
citizens  are  those  of  affluence.  'S'et  the  utterance 
of  the  "lowly  Xazarene,"  spoken  so  many  hun¬ 
dreds  of  years  ago.  is  true  of  our  county  today  : 
"The  ]X)or  ye  have  always  with  you."  .And  it 
was  with  the  view  of  supplying  a  suitable  home 
for  these  indigent  poor,  that  the  Hoard  of  Super¬ 
visors,  in  1867,  a])])ointed  a  committee  to  ])ur- 
chase  a  farm  to  be  used  for  that  ])ur])ose.  The 
men  who  served  on  that  committee  were  Edward 
Roessler,  W.  J.  P".  Howe  and  Alichael  Erey- 
burger.  .After  mature  deliberation  and  diligent 
search,  they  finally  selected  the  farm  of  James  .\. 


26 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Ivivers.  situated  four  and  one-half  miles  north¬ 
west  of  the  City  of  Shelbyville.  The  farm  con¬ 
sisted  of  240  acres.  130  acres  heing^  under  culti¬ 
vation  and  the  balance  in  timber.  It  was  con¬ 
veniently  situated  and  admirably  adai)ted  to  the 
])ur|)ose  for  which  it  was  purchased.  This  farm 
cost  the  county  nine  thousand,  sixty  dollars. 

.\fter  securing  the  farm,  the  committee  ad¬ 
vertised  for  some  one  to  lease  the  farm  and  care 
for  the  poor.  ( )n  the  12th  of  .\ugust.  of  that 
year.  David  Price  was  aj^pointed  superintendent, 
and  entered  into  an  agreement  with  tlie  board 
for  a  term  of  two  years.  It  necessarily  took  some 
time  to  get  the  i)lace  in  readiness  for  its  unfortu¬ 
nate  occupants,  as  more  room  had  to  be  supplied, 
together  with  beds,  bedding,  and  other  house¬ 
hold  furnishings,  so  that  it  was  some  little  time 
later  that  the  first  cpiota  of  i)aupers.  eleven  in 
munber.  were  received.  Tbe  terms  of  agreement 
bv  which  Mr.  Price  took  charge  of  tlTe  farm  and 
its  occupants,  stipulated  that  he  was  to  receive 
six  hundred  dollars  ]ier  year,  in  addition  to  what 
he  could  make  ipjon  the  farm.  i)rovided  the  in¬ 
mates  were  not  more  than  ten  in  number.  If 
the  number  increased,  he  was  to  receive  two 
hundred  dollars  per  year  additional  for  each  who 
could  not  work,  and  one  hundred  dollars  for  each 
who  could  ])erform  labor,  the  county  physician 
deciding  as  to  the  i)hysical  ability  of  sucb  pau- 
])ers  :  and  in  the  event  of  a  failure  of  the  croi)s. 
or  their  destruction  by  storm.  Price  was  to  re¬ 
ceive  reasonable  com])ensation  for  keeping  the 
])oor;  he  was  also  to  provide  for  the  inmates 
good  and  wholesome  food,  and  keeji  the  resi¬ 
dences  in  a  clean  and  wholesome  condition. 

Early  in  1868.  fifty-six  of  the  citizens  of  the 
county  signed  a  ])etition  and  ])resented  it  to  the 
Hoard  of  Supervisors,  recpiesting  their  imme¬ 
diate  attention  to  alleged  mismanagement  of  the 
Poor  I'ami.  and  the  suffering  condition  of  the 


])oor.  A  thorough  investigation  was  at  once 
made  by  the  Hoard,  in  ])erson.  and  upon  infor¬ 
mation  furnished  them,  added  to  wliat  thev  dis¬ 
covered  for  themselves,  they  unanimously  de¬ 
cided  to  relieve  the  superintendent  from  further 
control,  which,  however,  was  only  amicablv  ar¬ 
ranged  by  |)aying  him  one  hundred  fiftv  dollars, 
and  allowing  him  to  retain  two-thirds  of  the 
wheat  cro]). 

In  March.  1868.  the  farm  was  let  to  Francis 
W’inson  for  one  year.  In  1869.  J.  J.  Cline  rented 
it  for  one  year  for  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
eighty-four  dollars,  the  county  ])aying  two  dol¬ 
lars  and  forty-five  cents  ])er  week  for  the  sup])ort 
of  e.ich  ])au|)er.  Subsecpiently  it  was  determined 
that  it  was  a  better  ])lan  to  em])loy  a  superintend¬ 
ent.  at  a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  a  year,  to 
manage  the  farm  and  look  after  the  inmates, 
than  to  rent  a  $9,000  farm  for  $834  per  year. 
d'hereu])on  the  Hoard  of  Su])ervisors  em])loved 
such  superintendent  u])on  salary,  and  this  plan 
has  been  adhered  to  down  to  the  ])resent.  Since 
that  time  commodious  brick  buildings  have  been 
erected,  and  we  now  have  a  good,  substantial 
Poor  House.  ca])able  of  housing  a  large  number 
of  the  unfortunates  who  are  obliged  to  seek  ])ub- 
lic  aid.  d'he  main  building  is  in  scjuare  form  of 
two  stories;  a  wing,  about  120  feet  long  and  24 
feet  wide,  is  attached  to  the  north  side.  The 

inmates  receive  every  attention  and  suitable  care 

from  the  present  superintendent.  L.  J.  Heinz, 
who  is  serving  his  ninth  year  in  his  ])resent 
capacity. 

The  overseers  and  superintendents  of  the 
Poor  Farm  have  held  office  as  follows: 

David  Price .  1867 

Francis  Winson .  1868 

j.  J.  Cline  . 1861J — 1870 

John  E.  Lane . 1871  — 1876 

Theodore  .Mien . •‘^77 — 1878 


HISTORIC  SKirrCH. 


Jolin  H.  Lane . icSjy — 

Marvey  Hoyles  .  — 1891 

L.  J.  Heinz . 1892 — 

We  (jnote  from  the  rei)ort  of  Mr.  Heinz  to 
tile  last  meeting'  of  the  Hoard  of  Suiiervisors  : 

"Since  my  last  jnne  report  1  have  received 
11  inmates,  and  14  have  left  my  custody;  dis¬ 
charged,  7;  died,  3;  homes  found  for  3;  deserted, 
I  ;  total,  14.  'I'here  are  at  present  on  the  Farm. 
39;  fifteen  males,  and  twenty-four  females,  classi¬ 
fied  as  follows:  Hlind,  4:  insane^  3;  old  and  in¬ 
firm,  5;  children,  1  1  ;  crijipled,  2;  simple  minded. 
6;  afflicted  in  various  ways,  8;  total,  39.  The 
general  health  of  the  inmates  is  good,  the  h'arm 
is  in  good  condition,  and  the  stock  is  all  looking 
well,  d'he  following  jiroducts  were  raised  on 


the  Farni  last  year:  Corn,  3,000  hu.  ;  wheat,  407 
l)u. :  oats,  800  l)u. ;  clover  seed,  12  hu. ;  hay,  30 
tons:  ])otatoes,  275  hu. :  beans.  3  hu. ;  onions. 
6  hu. ;  beets,  5  bu. :  cabbage,  1 ,000  heads  ;  butter. 
1 . 100  lbs.  :  ajiple  ^nd  other  butters,  87  gal. ; 
canned  fruit,  144  gal.:  soft  soap,  300  gal.;  hard 
soa]),  400  lbs.;  lard,  125  gal.;  ap])les.  175  bu. : 
pickles  of  various  kinds.  135  gal.:  dried  fruits.  8 
bu.:  and  a  lot  of  other  garden  cereals.  1  have 
butchered  ten  hogs,  estimated  gross  weight,  260 
lbs.,  on  average.  Am  feeding  one  beef,  and  nine 
hogs  more,  which  I  intend  to  kill.  Have  sold 
various  articles,  amounting  to  8500.79,  which 
amount  I  have  turned  into  the  county  treasury." 

'rids  re])ort  surely  shows  a  good  condition 
of  affairs  at  the  Hoor  h'arm. 


11  .11 

‘  11  >1 

I 

1  ^.1,  ■•  : , 

LOOKING  WEST  FROM  DOME  OF  COl'RT  llOESE.  SIIELDVVI LLE. 


GEOGRAPHICAL  SITUATION  SIZE-TOPOGRAPHY 
DRAINAGE-PRIMEVAL  CONDITIONS.  Etc. 


(IIAPTKI!  III. 


( leographically.  Shelby  county  is  situated 
between  parallels  of  latitude  thirty-nine  and 
fortv.  .\  small  portion  of  its  western  boundary 
is  formed  by  the  third  principal  meridian.  It 
lies  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  centre  of  the 
state,  and  is  surrounded  by  the  followiiyi;'  coun¬ 
ties,  viz:  Christian,  Macon  and  Moidtrie  on 
the  north  ;  Monltrie,  Coles  and  Cumberland  on 
the  east;  Fayette  and  Effingham  on  the  south; 
Christian  and  Montgomery  on  the  west.  From 
north  to  south,  it  measures  thirty  miles,  and 
from  east  to  west  its  jL^reatest  breadth  is  thirty- 
si.x  miles.  The  area  of  the  county  is  a  little 
more  than  ei.ei'ht  hundred  stpiare  miles,  and  con¬ 
tains  about  512,000  acres  of  choice  fertile  soil, 
which  ranks  amon_s^st  the  richest  and  most  pro¬ 
ductive  in  the  state,  l^spccially  is  this  true  of 
the  northwestern  ])ortion  of  the  county.  'iTic 
leading  employments  of  the  i)eople  are  agricul¬ 
tural  pursuits,  which  are  carried  on  cpiite  exten¬ 
sively.  rewarding  the  laborers  richly.  The  lead¬ 
ing  sta])le  ])roducts  are  Indian  corn,  potatoes, 
yams,  hay,  sorghum,  wheat,  oats  and  broom 
corn.  'J'he  raising  of  the  latter  has  become 
(|uite  an  industry,  many  of  the  farmers  having 
from  fifty  to  one  hundred  acres  of  it  the  first 
season.  Mroom  corn  commands  a  good  ])rice. 
a  clear  profit  of  from  forty  to  fifty  dollars  an 
acre  being  realized  on  it.  I’nlike  sections  of  the 
country  where  only  one  or  two  kinds  of  produce 


are  to  he  deiiended  on,  the  farmers  of  Shelby 
county  are  always  sure  of  an  abundance  of 
farm  produce,  because  of  the  variety  which  can 
be.  and  is  grown  here,  ^"ou  can  name  scarcely 
any  fruit,  grain,  grass,  or  vegetable  which  is 
not  found  in  abundance  on  the  farms  of  -the 
county.  It  is  no  wonder  then,  that  the  enter¬ 
prising  and  intelligent  people,  who  go  to  make 
up  the  greater  part  of  the  ])opulation,  are  pros- 
])erous  and  fore-handed,  and  are  in  a  ])osition 
to  have  every  reasonable  desire  gratified.  Com¬ 
fort  and  even  luxury  are  to  be  found  upon  every 
hand.  Xo  spot  is  more  favored,  and  no  county 
in  the  state  has  a  greater  number  of  people 
who  are  farther  advanced  in  affiuence,  intelli¬ 
gence.  refinement,  and.  in  fact,  all  the  blessings 
of  life. 

COL’XTV  C.MTT.AE. 

The  capital  of  the  county  is  situated  in  town¬ 
ship  eleven  north,  range  four,  on  sections  seven 
and  eight.  .\  part  of  the  city — Moulton — ex¬ 
tends  over  onto  section  thirteen  of  Rose  town- 
shi]).  Shelbyville  is  near  the  centre  of  the  coun¬ 
ty.  and  is  on  the  lines  of  railroad  of  the  Chicago 
and  Eastern  Illinois,  and  the  Cleveland,  Cin¬ 
cinnati,  C'hicago  and  St.  Louis. 

T()l>(  )(',R.\FHV. 

The  greater  part  of  the  surface  is  smooth 
])rairie  land  ;  a  ])art  is  undulating:  while  there  is 
a  large  nnmber  of  small  hills  or  bluffs,  and  deep 
ravines.  These  are  to  he  found  adjacent  to 


2C) 


HISTORIC  SKJi  TCH. 


the  muneroiis  streams  of  the  comity.  I’artieu- 
larly  do  we  find  this  true  alontj  the  Kaskaskia 
river.  .Xloii”'  tliis  river  one  may  drive  for  many 
miles,  o\’er  rolliii”'  hills  and  throu_s4h  heantiful. 
wooded  j^lens,  ever  and  anon  fordiii";  the  (juiet 
little  river,  which,  however.  ])lays  no  unimjior- 
tant  ])art  in  the  natural 

I)R.\1X.\('.K  SVSTKM 

of  the  county.  'I'liis  river,  which  is  the  largest 
stream  in  v^helhy  county,  enters  on  the  hound- 
,'.ry  line  between  Windsor  and  (  )kaw  town¬ 
ships,  takes  an  irregular  course  toward  the 
southwest,  and  leaves  the  county  at  the  south¬ 
ern  line  of  section  15.  of  Dry  Point  township. 
It  finally  mingles  its  waters  with  those  of  the 
Mississippi  river  at  the  western  e.\tremity  of  the 
state.  In  its  course  it  passes  along  the  eastern 
side  of  Shelhyville.  and  afifords  the  pleasures  of 
boating,  bathing  and  fishing  to  the  peo])lc  of  the 
eity.  The  Kaskaskia,  with  its  tributaries,  drains 
the  greater  jiortion  of  Shelby  county.  I'he  Lit¬ 
tle  Wabash  river  has  its  source  in  numerous 
small  streams  in  Ash  (irove  township,  and 
drains  .\sh  (irove,  Pig  Spring  and  vSigel.  leav¬ 
ing  the  county  on  section  eighteen  of  the  last 
named  township.  'I'he  principal  tributary  of 
the  Little  Wabash  is  Copjieras  Creek,  which 
enters  it  from  the  east,  on  section  twenty  of  Pig 
Spring  townshi]).  Wolf.  Prush  and  Richland 
creeks  furnish  the  waterways  of  Prairie  and 
llolland  townshi])s,  Richland  creek  being 
swelled  by  the  waters  of  Prush  creek,  and  join¬ 
ing  the  Kaskaskia  on  section  eleven  of  Dry 
Point.  Mitchell  creek  is  the  principal  stream  of 
this  tcnvnshi]).  aside  from  the  Kaskaskia.  and 
crosses  a  corner  of  Cold  Spring  in  its  south¬ 
ward  course.  Peck's  and  'Possum  creeks  drain 
(  )conee  and  the  western  j)art  of  Cold  S])ring. 
Rural  is  watered  and  drained  bv  Mud  creek  and 


its  numerous  branches.  I'lat  Pranch  and  Mo- 
weacpia  have  I'lat  Pranch  creek,  which  flows  in 
a  northwesterly  direction,  leaving  the  county  on 
section  si.\  of  h'lat  Pranch  township.  It  has  a 
numher  of  small  tributaries.  It  is  readily  seen 
that  the  entire  county  is  threaded  with  a  net¬ 
work  of  small  rivers  and  streams,  so  that  the 
surface  is  well  watered  and  drained.  Peside 
these  streams,  in  many  portions  of  the  comity 
are  found  sjirings  of  clear,  cold  water,  and  nu¬ 
merous  small  lakes.  'I'lie  surface  of  our 
count)-  is  higher,  generally,  than  that  of  adjoin¬ 
ing  counties,  as  mav  be  inferred  from  the  fact 
that  so  man)  streams  have  their  .source  here. 
'1  he  climate  is  all  that  could  be  desired,  the 
happy  mean,  between  the  extremes  of  heat  and 
cold. 

T(  )WXSllIPvS. 

Shelby  county  is  divided  into  twenty-two 
municipal  townshi])s.  Running  from  north  to 
south,  and  beginning  at  the  west,  they  are  as 
follows:  In  the  first  tier,  (  )conee.  which  is  at 
the  .southwest  corner  of  the  county;  second  tier. 
Moweacpia,  h'lat  Pranch,  Rural,  Tower  llill. 
Cold  Spring  and  Herrick;  third  tier,  Penn. 
Pickaway.  Ridge.  Rose  and  Dry  Point;  fourth 
tier,  'I'odd's  Point.  Okaw,  Shelhyville  and  Hol¬ 
land;  fifth  tier.  Windsor,  Richland  and  I’rairie; 
si.xth  tier,  .\sh  (irove.  Pig  Spring  and  Sigel. 

(  )conee.  Dry  Point,  Holland  and  Prairie 
each  comprise  one  and  one-half  townshijis,  or 
fifty-four  sections  of  land. 

POPL'LATIOX  OF  TOWXSHIPS. 

'I  he  population  of  the  several  tow  n.shii)s  of 
Shelby  county,  as  determined  by  the  census  of 
it;oo,  is  as  follows 


Ash  (irove .  1 ,348 

Pig  S])ring .  961 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Cold  Spring^ . 

s 

Dry  I’oint . 2,520 

Flat  Branch .  991 

H  errick .  887 

Holland .  1-833 

Moweaqna .  1.802 

( )conec .  1.691 

(  )ka\v .  1 ,408 

I’enn .  541 

Pickaway .  890 

Prairie .  ...  2,096 

Richland .  i>35o 

Ridge .  1.084 

Rose .  1 .4 1 5 

Shelhyville . 4.304 

Rural . '. .  867 

vSigel .  980 

Todd’s  Point .  629 

Tower  Hill .  '-538 

Windsor .  1,808 


Total . 32.076 


SOIL. 

.\  more  definite  allusion  to  the  soil  might 
he  made  than  that  already  contained  in  the  ])re¬ 


ceding  pages.  The  soil  of  most  of  the  northern 
part  of  the  county  is  a  dark,  rich  loam,  and 
])roduces  finer  crops  of  corn  than  that  of  any 
other  portions  of  the  county.  In  the  south¬ 
western  part  of  Shelby  the  soil  of  the  flat  prairie 
and  timbered  lands,  is  very  thin ;  and  on  the 
mound  slopes  e.xceedingly  rich  and  productive, 
(lood  crops  of  wheat  are  raised  in  most  of  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  and  on  the  mound 
slo])es  of  the  southern  part. 

K.xcellent  sand  for  use  in  ])lastering  is  [)ro- 
curable  on  Little  Wabash  and  Ixaskaskia  rivers, 
on  Sand  creek,  and  from  some  of  the  drift  e.x- 
l)osures.  The  sand  and  gravel  of  the  county 
are  good  material  for  the  building  of  roads. 
Shelbyville  is  particularly  fortunate  in  having  an 
almost  inexhaustible  su])ply  of  si)lendid  road 
material,  conveniently  located.  .\  good  (juality 
of  clay  for  brick-making  may  be  found  almost 
anywhere  in  the  county.  Limestone,  suitable 
for  lime,  can  be  obtained  only  on  Sand  creek, 
and  four  or  five  miles  north  of  Shelbyville. 

It  is  readily  seen  that  nature  has  wisely  and 
generously  ])rovided  for  the  needs  and  com¬ 
forts  of  residents  of  Shelbv  countv. 


STATE  ROADS  BRIDGES  -STAGES  POLITICAL  PARTIES 

AND  LEADERS. 


('ll  Al’l'lCIi  IV. 


It  is  ours  to  j^ive  but  a  brief  survey  of  those 
lu}.ili\\  ays  for  ])ublic  travel  witliiu  tlie  eouuty, 
wliich  are  known  as  State  R(ja(ls ;  and  though 
we  may  not  make  mention  of  all  of  them,  still 
we  shall  s])eak  of  the  most  imiiortant — the  ones 
upon  which  there  is  the  most  travel. 

('jood  roads  are  a  sign  of  civilization.  'I'he 
wild  animals  make  winding  and  devious  path¬ 
ways  through  the  forests ;  the  savage  is 
content  to  follow  a  crooked  trail  across  the 
])rairie  or  through  the  wood  ;  but  civilized  man 
casts  up  a  highway,  straight  and  level,  upon 
which  to  drive  his  teams  and  haul  his  loads  of 
produce  to  market.  The  more  thrifty  and  in¬ 
dustrious  are  the  residents  of  any  given  com¬ 
munity.  the  better  will  be  the  roads  of  that 
comimmity.  Some  classes  are  content  to  travel 
on  for  decades  over  roads  which  have  no  bot¬ 
tom.  into  the  mire  of  which  the  wheels  of  their 
vehicles  sink  dee]) ;  or  over  the  old  cordnnjy 
roads  which  still  e.xist  in  some  localities,  and 
which  would  serve  very  well  as  the  ])nwerbial 
road  over  which  the  "pauper's"  bones  were  to 
be  rattled.  Good,  hard  roads  are  always  cheaper 
than  ])oor  ones,  as  many  men  have  found  out 
to  their  cost. 

( )ne  of  these  state  roads,  and  perhaps  the 
one  over  which  there  is  the  most  travel,  is  that 
leading  westward  from  Terre  Haute.  Indiana, 
connecting  that  city  with  Shelbyville.  and  of 
which  Alain  street,  of  the  latter  city,  is  a  con¬ 
tinuation.  .Another  takes  its  way  in  a  zig-zag 


diagonal  across  Shelby  county  from  \  andalia. 
forty  miles  to  the  southwest,  and  takes  in  Shel¬ 
byville  on  its  C(,)nrse.  Still  another,  is  the  high¬ 
way  between  Shelbyville  and  S])ringfield.  about 
eighty  miles  to  the  northwest.  'Taylorville  is  one 
of  the  towns  along  the  road  between  the  two 
'  cities  above  mentioned.  'I'his  same  road  e.xtends 
south  and  east  of  Shelbyville  as  far  as  Charles¬ 
ton.  It  was  over  these  roads  that  the  old  st.ige 
coach  of  pioneer  and  ante-railroad  days  took  its 
slow  and  lumbering  way.  canwing  the  L'nited 
Atates  mail,  and  occasionallv  a  jiassenger  or 
two.  (  )nce  in  a  while  (jnite  a  distinguished  jier- 
sonage  would  be  cai*ried  to  and  fro  through  our 
county.  Xo  less  a  man  than  Martin  \'an  Ikireii. 
the  eighth  |)resident  of  our  Rejinblic,  once 
jiassed  through  Shelbyville  by  stage,  and  sto])- 
jied  over  night  at  'I'reslcr's  tavern,  at  Cochran's 
Grove,  where  there  was  what  was  then  known 
as  a  "stage  stand.  "  James  Cochran  was  then 
postmaster  at  that  ])lace.  W  e  can  say  with 
ecpial  truth  that  no  greater  man  than  Abraham 
Lincoln  ever  jiassed  this  way.  jiatronizing  the 
stage  coaches  and  inns  by  the  wayside.  'The 
Talhnan  House — now  Leland — Greer's  Tavern, 
three  and  one-half  miles  east  of  the  city,  where 
1)11(1  Hilton  now  lives,  and  the  ta.vern  at  Coch¬ 
ran  s  Grove  were  the  most  ])oi)nlar  ones  of  all 
along  the  route,  and  it  was  the  Tallman  House 
where  Lincoln  and  other  lawyers  used  to  board 
while  in  Shelbyville.  attending  court.  Old  Mrs. 
Tallman.  who  was  hostess  of  that  house  in  the 
olden  days,  and  who  still  resides  in  the  citw 
has  a  very  jileasing  recollection  of  the  immortal 


A  B K  A M  M I  D I) L ES  \\  ( ) K T H . 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Lincoln.  During  one  session  of  court,  at  which 
"Abe"  was  in  attendance.  i\lrs.  Tallman  pre- 
])ared  one  day  an  old-fashioned  "boiled  din¬ 
ner,”  the  like  of  which  we  all  remember  well. 
( )f  this  Lincoln  ate  with  a  relish,  and  literally 
gorged  himself,  so  fond  was  he  of  that  prepara¬ 
tion.  Some  time  later,  coming  to  Shelbyville 
to  attend  court  again,  before  .going  to  the  court 
house  in  the  morning.  Mr.  Lincoln  sought  Mrs. 
Tallman  in  her  kitchen  and  said:  "Mrs.  Tall¬ 
man,  can't  you  give  us  another  boiled  dinner, 
today?"  which  she  i)roceeded  to  do.  and  of 
which  the  man.  who  was  destined  to  become 
the  "Savior  of  his  country,”  ate  just  as  raven¬ 
ously  as  he  did  of  the  first  dinner  he  ate  in  the 
Tallman  House. 

The  roads,  even  the  state  roads,  were  ex¬ 
ceedingly  bad  in  the  early  days,  and  it  some¬ 
times  became  necessary  to  carry  the  mail  in  a 
rude  box,  hoisted  upon  the  axle  between  two 
wheels,  and  even  then  employing  from  four  to 
six  horses  to  drag  this  outfit  through  the  mud. 
The  only  ])ost  office  between  Shelbyville  and 
Cochran’s  ('>rove,  was  ke])t  by  the  father  of 
Jasper  L.  Douthit,  four  and  one-half  miles  east 
of  the  citv,  on  the  farm  where  he  then  lived. 

Some  of  the  other  taverns  which  existed 
in  the  early  days  throiygh  this  section,  were  lo¬ 
cated  ;  ( )ne  on  Washington  street  where  IL 

M.  Davis'  livery  now  stands;  one  on  the  south¬ 
west  corner  of  the  public  scpiare :  the  Harrison 
Tavern,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Broadway, 
where  Scovil's  store  now  stands ;  one  kept  by 
James  Culter.  Sr.,  in  Moulton,  known  as  "Old 
Culter  Stand and  one  at  Prairie  Bird,  now 
Henton.  Still  another  was  about  eight  miles 
out  on  the  Springfield  road,  which  su])plied  a 
stop])ing  ])lace  for  the  stages  and  travelers. 

.At  some  seasons  of  the  year,  as  may  still 
be  done,  it  was  possible  to  ford  the  various 


streams  of  the  county,  at  almost  any  place  ;  but 
at  other  seasons  they  rose  to  a  raging  torrent, 
and  then  bridges  became  a  necessity.  The  first 
bridge  over  the  Kaskaskia  was  one  erected  just 
east  of  Shelbyville.  and  finished  and  accepted  bv 
the  county  commissioners,  in  1834.  From  that 
time  on  other  bridges  were  constructed,  some 
of  a  poor  class,  and  others  of  a  much  more  sub¬ 
stantial  and  worthy  kind.  Todav  there  are  a 
great  many  bridges  within  the  county,  and  many 
of  them  of  as  good  material  and  as  substantially 
made  as  any  to  be  found.  Iron  bridges,  with 
stone  abutments  prevail.  In  this  connection  we 
must  speak  of  the  gigantic  piece  of  en¬ 
gineering  skill  dis])layed  in  the  construction 
of  the  C.  &  E.  1.  R.  R.  bridge  across  the 
( )kaw.  just  at  the  eastern  limit  of  the  City  of 
Shelbyville,  and  which  is  the  largest  bridge  in 
the  state  of  Illinois.  Its  erection  was  completed 
in  the  fall  of  1897.  It  is  a  massive  structure. 
1600  feet  from  end  to  end.  and  106  feet  high. 

POLITICAL  P.XRTIES  .AND  LEADERS. 

The  history  of  the  political  parties  and 
leaders  is  better  known  by  the  old  -residents 
of  the  county,  than  we  can  record  it.  still  some 
little  mention  must  be  made  of  it  in  these  pages. 

A  nundjer  of  the  difterent  parties  have  had 
existence  within  Shelby  county,  though  some  of 
them  never  attained  great  prominence  ;  the  most 
important  ones  beingthe  Democratic.  Republican 
and  Whig.  The  old  residents  can  look  back 
and  recall  with  vividness  some  stormy  scenes 
of  the  early  6o’s.  when  h.earts  beat  quick  and 
blood  ran  riot  through  the  veins :  when  good, 
patriotic  men.  ordinarily,  were  led  away  by  par¬ 
tisan  prejudice  and  hot-headed  leaders,  to  per¬ 
form  acts  which  in  moments  of  their  cooler 
judgment  thev  would  have  spurned  from  them. 


HISTORIC  SKirrCII. 


iM'om  tlic  incc])ti()n  of  tlic  county  it  had 
been  a  Democratic  stronghold,  always  giving 
one  of  the  largest  majorities  of  any  county  in 
the  state.  Xo  other  ])arty  had  been  able  to  have 
re])resentation  through  the  press,  until  the  pub¬ 
lication  of  "'riic  Shelby  I'reeman,"  in  1860.  and 
as  a  natural  consetpience,  the  dominant  party 
had  things  all  its  own  way,  and  was  loth  to  ad¬ 
mit  any  force  or  factor  which  would  deteriorate 
from  its  own  power.  Hitherto  "free  speech” 
and  a  "free  ])ress"  were  unknown  (piantitics  in 
the  county,  as  any  effort  to  secure  the  publica¬ 
tion  of  an  article  which  was  in  the  slightest  de¬ 
gree  censorious  of  the  existing  condition  of 
affairs,  was  summarily  "scpielched.” 

'i'he  organization  of  the  Re])ul)lican  party, 
in  the  Lincoln  issues  of  ’58  and  '60.  was  the 
signal  for  the  passing  of  the  W  big  jiarty, 
many  of  the  members  of  the  same  uniting  with 
the  Republicans,  though  a  few  went  with  the 
Democrats.  I'nder  the  circumstances  which 
then  existed  it  is  not  strange  that  through  par¬ 
tisan  ])reiudice  otherwise  excellent  citizens  were 
led  to  take  sides  with  the  enemies  of  the  gov¬ 
ernment. 

K.  hk  Chittenden,  J.  W.  Johnson,  and  oth¬ 
ers,  were  able  supjiorters  of  the  new  party  and 
its  ])rinciples.  and  their  papers,  the  Freeman  and 
the  L'nion,  published  first  in  1863.  sup- 

])ort  of  many  of  the  sober  and  fair-minded 
Democrats,  amongst  whom  was  Hon.  S. 
.Moulton.  There  were  others,  however,  who 
were  not  openly  friendly,  hut  by  adherence  to 
the  right,  as  they  saw  the  right,  were  enabled  to 
prevent  their  ])arty  from  running  off  to  the 
greatest  extremes  of  "cojiperheadism”  as  it  was 
then  termed,  .\mong  such  might  be  mentioned 
General  M  in.  F.  Thornton.  Judge  Anthony 
Thornton,  and  others.  Roth  of  these  gentle¬ 
men,  whose  names  appear,  though  bound  by  ties 


of  birth,  blood  and  training  to  a  .Southern  view 
of  the  (jucstion  at  issue,  ever  siioke  loyal  and 
patriotic  words  from  the  beginning,  and  did 
much  to  prevent  riot  and  bloodshed  within  our 
borders,  in  a  meeting  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle,  a  semi-secret  organization  for 
the  pui'iiose  of  inciting  resistance  to  the  draft. 
Judge  'I'hornton  was  vehemently  denounced  as 
a  traitor  because  he  had  advised  submission  to 
the  government  at  \\  ashington,  and  condemned 
those  w  ho  were  arming  and  drilling  in  our 
midst. 

.\  certain  preacher  (  ?).  by  name  Woods, 
made  use  of  the.se  words  in  addressfng  the 
“Knights,"  and  was  roundly  cheered  when  he 
made  this  reference  t(j  Judge  Thornton:  "Had 
it  not  been  for  such  weak-kneed,  cowardly 
traitors  we  should  have  had  King  Lincoln  de¬ 
throned  long  ago.  yea  verily,  and  beheaded.” 

Jasper  L.  Douthit  was  ap])ointed  to  take 
the  enrollment  of  the  eastern  half  of  the  county, 
and  so  bitter  was  the  o])])osition  to  this  work, 
that  his  life  was  in  constant  danger,  and  at  one 
time  his  house  was  bombarded  in  the  middle  of 
the  night.  Doubtless  his  life  would  have  been 
sacrificed  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  had  it  not 
been  that  he  often  went  from  jilace  to  place  in 
disguise.  John  R.  Harding,  who  superintended 
the  enrolling  in  the  county,  Elliott,  in  Holland 
townshi]).  Manly  and  Huffer,  in  I’rairie,  Turner, 
in  Richland,  Wilkinson,  Hilsabeck  and  Rose, 
in  Windsor,  were  men  who  were  members  of 
the  various  political  ]iarites.  yet  aided  much  in 
lirevention  of  violence,  and  in  submission  to  the 
Federal  government. 

General  Thornton  was  perhai)s  as  great  a 
political  leader  as  our  county  has  ever  seen,  and 
though  dominating  in  things  political,  he  w'as  a 
man  of  pure  mind  and  integrity  of  pur])ose ;  and 
it  is  ])retty  good  evidence  of  the  righteousness 


34 


1596004 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


of  his  reign  that  the  adlierents  of  his  partv  were 
(|uite  willing  to  he  led  by  such  a  man. 

Another  party  to  he  reckoned  with  in  the 
political  circles  of  Shelby  county,  is  the  Prohi¬ 
bition  party,  organized  in  a  convention  called 
for  that  pnrjKtse,  by  ('leo.  L.  Donthit.  Mav  29. 
uS86.  Believing  that  the  time  was  rijje  for  an 
organized  warfare  against  intemi)erance.  this 
gentleman,  with  the  assistance  of  a  number  of 
others,  succeeded  in  this  organization.  After¬ 
ward  they  went  heartily  to  work,  and  by  a  tre¬ 
mendous  effort  raised  the  vote  from  80  for  St 
John,  in  1884,  to  436  for  their  candidate  for 
state  treasurer,  in  1886.  In  1888.  327  votes  were 
polled  in  this  county  for  their  candidate  for  presi¬ 
dent.  The  organization  of  this  new  ])arty  stir¬ 
red  up  nearly  as  much  unjust  criticism  and 
o])position  as  did  the  efforts  against  slaverv 
twenty-five  years  before.  J.  L.  Donthit  was  the 
leader  of  the  new  forces,  and  ])ublished  Prohibi¬ 
tion  literature  in  jirofuse  (piantities;  and  again, 
as  in  the  6o's,  his  life  and  ])ro])erty  were  threat¬ 
ened  by  destruction.  But  an  unswerving  cour¬ 
age  and  loyalty  upon  the  jiart  of  this  little  band 
of  workers  against  a  great  evil,  has  won  for 


them  also  the  resjiect  of  the  older  iiarties,  and 
for  years  no  harsh  criticism  has  been  heard. 

\\  Idle  in  those  former  days  the  political 
arena  in  Shelby  county  was  the  scene  of  bitter 
strife  and  factional  feuds,  in  these  latter  davs 
there  is  an  absence  of  that  base  fraud  and  chi¬ 
canery  so  noticeable  in  many  localities.  And 
though  the  Democratic  party  is  the  one  which 
still  hcilds  the  balance  of  power,  yet  there  exists 
a  wholesome  respect  for  one  another. 

\\  e  look  to  the  future  with  a  calm  and 
steadfast  faith  in  our  Federal  constitution  and 
government,  believing  them  to  be  the  best  on 
earth,  and  though  sometimes  the  storm  clouds 
of  the  smoke  of  battle  may  roll  above  us.  and 
the  thunderous  booming  of  the  cannon  mav  be 
heard  :  and  though  |)erchance  we  may  be  stirred 
from  center  to  circumference  by  civil  or  inter¬ 
national  unpleasantness,  yet  the  shi]i  of  state 
will  ride  securely  over  the  troubled  seas,  and 
glide  safely  into  the  harbor :  political  tricksters 
and  demagogues  will  be  a  relic  of  the  j)ast.  purity 
in  ])olitics  will  everywhere  ])revail.  and  none  but 
good  men  and  ])ure.  will  secure  nomination  for 
any  ijolitical  office. 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  PIONEERS-THEIR 

HARDSHIPS,  HOMES,  Etc. 


CM  AP'l'Hli  V. 


W  hile  the  old  century  is  a-dying,  let  us 
withdraw  our  g’aze  for  a  little,  and  take  a  retro¬ 
spective  view  of  the  happy  past,  when  the  cen¬ 
tury  was  youu" — a  i)ast  which  can  never  come 
aj^aiu,  and  the  like  of  which  can  never  again  be 
seen  in  this  part  of  our  noble  land. 

( )ur  minds  have  been  upon  the  intrepid, 
daring,  modern  e.xplorer,  who  is  carrying  his 
life  in  his  hand  as  he  persistently  and  unflinch¬ 
ingly  pursues  his  undaunted  way  toward  the 
Pole;  let  us  think,  for  a  moment,  of  the  hardy 
])ioneer  who,  gathering  up  his  few  belongings, 
and  with  his  little  family  in.  carts  or  upon  the 
backs  of  horses,  leaving  the  friends  and  scenes 
of  his  youth  behind  him,  pushes  out  into  a  coun¬ 
try  unknown  to  him,  and  the  journey  toward 
which  is  fraught  with  hardships  and  dangers 
the  extent  of  which  he  does  not  know.  This 
])erhaps  requires  as  much  faith  and  courage 
upon  his  part,  and  is  perchance  as  great  an  un¬ 
dertaking  in  the  eyes  of  those  he  leaves  behind, 
as  the  heroic  efforts  of  the  explorer  in  Arctic 
regions. 

( )ur  thoughts  are  with  the  modern  architect 
and  builder,  who  are  planning  and  erecting 
superstructures  of  rare  symmetrical  grace  and 
beauty,  of  gigantic  proportions  and  wondrous 
strength  ;  let  us  turn  our  minds  to  the  humble 
juoneer,  who,  with  no  other  mechanical  imi)le- 
ments  than  his  faithful  ax  and  cross-cut  saw, 
and  without  any  knowledge  whatever  of  pillar. 


cornice  oi  archivolt,  goes  into  the  forest,  and 
.saws  and  hews  for  himself  a  log  palaee  which  he 
may  call  home,  and  of  which  he  is  King,  and  his 
wife  is  Oueen. 

\\  e  are  thinking  of  the  artist,  and  gazing 
with  enraptured  eyes  uijon  the  magnificent 
landscape  which  he  has  placed  upon  the  canvas; 
then  let  us  think  of  the  pioneer  farmer,  who 
comes  into  a  wilderness  of  forest  and  wild 
prairie  land,  and  after  a  little,  under  the  magic 
touch  of  his  hand,  there  spring  up  the  fields  of 
waiving  grain  and  the  gardens  of  fruit  and  vege¬ 
tables.  which  are  not  alone  ])leasing  to  the  eve, 
but  are  pleasing  to  the  taste  as  well. 

W  e  may  be  contemplating  with  wondering 
amazement  the  perfecting  of  the  electrical  ap- 
l)liances,  l>v  which  it  is  possible  to  Hash  a  mes- 
-sage  around  the  globe  in  a  few  seconds  of  time ; 
let  us  turn  our  thoughts  to  the  pioneer,  who 
necessarily  waited  weary  weeks  and  even  months 
for  an  answer  to  his  written  message,  carried  on 
foot  and  by  horseback  to  his  early  home,  and  for 
the  sending  of  which  he  might  ])ay  as  much  as 
a  half  dollar,  or  even  more. 

W’e  gaze  upon  the  marvelous  machinery 
which  lightens  the  toil  of  the  farmer,  and  ex¬ 
pedites  his  agricultural  labors,  and  then  think 
of  the  plow  with  wooden  mold-board,  the  hoe. 
sickle  and  rake  of  the  pioneer,  with  which  he 
did  most  of  his  farm  work. 

Contemplating  with  a  good  deal  of  satis¬ 
faction  the  many  charitable  organizations  and 
institutions,  through  which  flows  help  to  our 
more  unfortunate  fellows,  let  us  turn  our  eves 


LOOKING  NORTHWEST  FROM  DOME  OF  COURT  HOUSE,  SHELBVVILLE. 


>  ^  ' 


. /;■- ,;5ap .  ,.  ■  .. 


e  V  , 


*  >  V 
^  *■-*■*' C -V-tl 


kV 


•« 


\^i  ^ 

•  >  "j  » 


...  ^■■-.av^j 


-■'-■■  /*?!  •sV  '-■>  •■  *  ^ 

'•  '  *• -*4c  -  ••■X] 

'  -4  •  -  '  '  ■'  V  ■"  ■&'  ■■■^M 


♦'  - 


.*-1 


.  4'  *■■■£.' 


►  r?  fc. 


a* 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


backward  and  l)ehold  the  true  charity  of  the 
settlers,  who,  with  more  sincerity  than  tact,  per¬ 
haps,  relieved  the  distress  of  the  unfortunate, 
and  shared  their  little  with  the  neig’hbor  who 
had  less. 

The  man  who  came  to  this  country  in  those 
early  days,  and  now,  with  dimming-  eye  and 
whitened  hair,  sits  by  the  fireside  and  talks  in 
a  happy,  garrulous  fashion  of  his  youth  and 
young  manhood,  can  not  be  made  to  believe 
that  these  latter  days  are  better  than  the  former ; 
that  there  is  an  increase  in  happiness,  an  im- 
])rovement  in  social  life,  a  higher  standard  of 
morals,  and  an  upward  tendency  in  all  that  re¬ 
lates  to  mankind.  .\nd  we  would  not  undeceive 
him  if  we  could,  lllessed  pioneer — the  founder 
of  our  homes,  and  the  forerunner  of  our  suc¬ 
cesses  ! 

The  majority  of  the  pioneers  of  Shelby 
county  came  from  the  states  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  while  manv  came  from  ( )hio.  Many 
of  those  from  the  first  two  states  named  were 
descendants  of  the  intrei)id  Indian  fighter  and 
Hunter,  David  Crockett,  and  settled  in  the 
southern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  county,  while 
those  from  ( )hio,  generally  of  a  little  wealthier 
class,  settled  in  the  northern  i)art  of  Shelby.  The 
latter  were  distinctively  the  better  agricultur¬ 
ists. 

In  speaking  of  the  ( fhioans  as  belonging  to 
a  "wealthier  class"  than  the  others,  we  must  not 
be  understood  to  mean  "wealthy"  in  the  sense 
in  which  it  is  now  gener'allv  understood  :  for  in 
those  days  all  men  were  poor,  having  but  few 
of  the  comforts,  and  none  of  the  lu.xuries  of 
life.  With  this,  however,  it  is  important  to  re¬ 
member  that  their  ])overty  carried  with  it  no 
crushing  sense  of  degradation,  as  does  that  of 
the  very  j)oor  of  our  own  day.  They  lived  in 
log  cabins,  it  is  true,  but  they  were  tlieir  own. 


and  had  been  reared  by  their  own  hands,  toil- 
hardened  and  labor-stained  as  they  were.  The 
houses,  too.  were  built  in  the  prevailing  style  of 
architecture,  and  did  not  suffer  by  comparison 
with  those  of  the  neighbors,  which  were  neither 
better  nor  worse.  .\s  has  been  indicated,  these 
houses  were  of  logs,  made  in  the  simplest  style, 
all  of  them  having  wide,  gaping  fire-places,  and 
many  of  them  having  no  other  escape  for  the 
smoke  than  that  afforded  by  a  hole  in  the  roof. 
It  was  an  unmistakable  sign  of  the  "aristocracy" 
to  find  a  frame  house,  rude  though  it  may  be, 
with  a  brick  chimney.  This,  however,  was  a 
rarity  indeed.  The  prevailing  custom  was  to 
have  one  large  room  which  was  used  for  recep¬ 
tion  room,  drawing  room,  library,  parlor  and 
bed  room,  and  a  smaller  room,  where  the  cook¬ 
ing  and  eating  were  done.  Another  plan,  and 
there  were  many  houses  built  after  this  fashion, 
was  to  have  two  large  rooms  with  log  walls, 
and  a  broad  hallway  between  them.  These 
rooms  were  called  the  "big-house."  and 
"kitchen,"  respectively.  ( fccasionally  there 
would  be  a  loft  over  these  rooms,  which  would 
sometimes  be  dignified  by  the  name  of  "up¬ 
stairs." 

Another  fact  worthy  of  note  was  that  very 
many  of  the  pioneers  located  their  cabins  "in 
the  brush"  along  the  river,  and  a  man  who  built 
u])on  the  open  ])rairie  was  0])enly  denounced  as 
a  "fool"  in  no  unmistakable  terms.  This  antip¬ 
athy  toward  the  "open"  was  due.  in  all  prob- 
abilitv.  to  the  settlers  having  come  from  the 
l)rotected  regions  of  mountains  and  woods. 

The  furnishings  of  these  humble  dwellings 
comported  admirably  with  the  house  itself,  and 
hence,  if  not  elegant,  were  in  perfect  taste.  It 
was  all  of  the  sim])lest  ])attern.  and  was  shaped 
entirely  with  no  other  tools  than  the  ax  and 
auger.  The  tables  were  rude  affairs,  made  from 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


a  puncheon,  a  lo^  s])lit  in  two.  and  the  ron.ei'h 
side  hewn  off  with  ax  or  adz.  To  tliis  were 
affixed  four  lej>s.  and  the  table  was  complete. 
The  chairs  were  ])rincipally  three-le^fjed, 
"stools.”  iCach  man  was  his  own  carpenter,  and 
some  of  them  exhibited  considerable  skill  in  the 
construction  of  aj^ricnltnral  implements,  uten¬ 
sils.  and  furniture  for  the  kitchen  and  house. 
Wooden  vessels,  either  dn^  out  or  cojjpered 
were  in  common  use  for  howls,  out  of  which  each 
member  of  the  family  ate  mush  and  milk  for 
supper.  ('lonrds  were  used  for  drmkino^  cups. 

'file  diet  and  cookery  were  of  the  simplest. 
Wild  i^ame  abounded.  The  settlers  hronjj^ht 
with  them  enon<^h  provision  to  last  them  until 
they  could  plant  and  raise  a  cro])  on  their  new 
land.  Indian  corn  was  raised,  which  was  re¬ 
duced  to  meal  by  being  beaten  in  a  mortar, 
This  meal  was  made  into  a  coarse,  hut  whole¬ 
some  bread,  though  many  times  the  teeth  were 
"set  on  edge"  by  the  grit  which  it  contained. 
Johnny-cake  and  pones  were  served  up  at  din¬ 
ner,  while  mush-and-milk  was  the  "old  stand¬ 
by"  for  supper.  While  they  had  a  jilenty  of 
game  and  vegetables  all  the  week,  the  corn 
bread  was  mostly  reserved  for  Sunday,  and 
coffee  was  served  only  on  Sunday  morning,  or 
to  visitors,  'fhen  each  member  of  the  family, 
even  the  child  of  but  a  few  years,  was  indulged 
to  the  extent  of  a  ‘‘gourd  of  coffee."  Maple 
sugar  was  much  used  and  honey  was  but  five 
cents  a  pound.  This  was  also  the  price  of  butter, 
and  eggs  were  hut  three  cents  a  dozen.  Corn 
was  hut  six  and  one-fourth  cents  per  bushel. 
The  "truck  ])atch"  furnished  roasting  ears. 
l)umpkins,  s(|uashes,  beans  and  potatoes,  and 
these  were  in  common  use.  The  streams  abound¬ 
ed  in  fish,  which  furnished  a  healthful  and 
abundant  article  of  diet.  Chickens,  geese,  tur- 
kevs  and  ducks  were  verv  numerous.  Wild 


grai)es  and  plums  were  to  be  found  along  tlu 
streams,  and  nature  vied  with  man  in  producing 
for  the  latter  an  abundance  of  the  most  sub¬ 
stantial  and  stable  |)rovision  for  his  temi)oral 
needs.  Truly,  there  are  today  worse  places  thar 
"(  )ld  Shelby"  was  in  the  pioneer  days. 

Kach  house  contained  a  card-loom  and 
s])inning  wheel,  which  were  considered  by  the 
women  as  necessary  for  them,  as  the  rille  for  the 
man.  The  sheep  were  sheared,  the  wool  carde 
and  spun,  the  manufactured  cloth  dyed  and 
made  intc;  clothing,  all  within  the  family, 
h'veryone  wore  "homes])un."  most  of  which  was 
dyed  with  walnut  bark,  while  Indigo  was  re¬ 
served  for  “.something  very  fine.”  In  cool 
weather,  gowns  made  of  "linsey-woolsey"  were 
worn  hr  the  women,  d'he  men  and  boys  wore 
"jeans,"  sometimes  blue,  and  sometimes  "but¬ 
ternut"  in  color.  Many  times  when  the  men 
gathered  to  a  log-rolling  or  barn-raising,  the 
women  would  also  assemble,  liringing  their  spin¬ 
ning  wheels  with  them,  with  which  they  would 
Im.sy  themselves,  the  hum  of  the  sjiinning  being 
accompanied  bv  the  pleasant  murmur  of  the 
voices  of  the  fair  manipulators. 

The  dressed  skin  of  the  deer  were  much 
used  for  pantaloons  by  the  men  and  boys.  Meal 
sacks  were  also  made  of  buckskin.  Caps 
were  made  of  the  skins  of  the  wolf,  fox. 
wild  cat  and  musk-rat,  tanned  with  the 
fur  on.  I’oth  sexes  wore  moccasins,  which  in 
dry  weather,  were  an  excellent  substitute  for 
shoes.  There  were  no  shoemakers,  and  each 
family  made  its  own  shoes. 

The  settlers  were  separated  from  their 
neighbors,  often  by  miles,  and  as  there  were  no 
"meetings"  to  call  them  together,  the  alacrity 
with  which  they  accepted  an  invitation  to  a 
"bee"  of  any  kind,  can  easily  be  imagined.  The 
utmost  good  will  and  brotherly  love  existed 


8 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


anion"  these  pioneers.  It  is  related  that  at  one 
time  a  man  hv  the  name  of  Price,  who  lived  in 
what  is  now  Ash  Grove  township,  was  taken 
sick  and  was  unable  to  harvest  ten  acres  of  wheat 
which  needed  cutting.  The  weather  was  jileas- 
ant  and  it  was  the  "full  of  the  moon."  Imagine 
the  pleasurable  surjirise  wlien.  uiion  going  to  the 
door  one  morning.  Mrs.  Price  discovered  that  the 
kind-hearted  neighbors  had  come  under  cover 
of  the  night  and  had  cut  and  shocked  the  whole 
field  of  wheat.  This  is  but  one  of  many  such 
kindly  acts  which  go  to  illustrate  the  spirit  which 
e.xisted  in  the  early  days,  and  which  is,  alas !  too 
little  known  today. 

.At  all  log-rollings,  house-raisings  and 
corn-shuckings  it  was  customary  to  provide 
liipior  and  a  dance.  K.xcessive  drinking  was 
not  engaged  in.  however,  and  the  comjiany  pre¬ 
sented  a  gay  appearance  throughout  the  even¬ 
ing  and  much  of  the  night,  after  the  labors  of 
the  day  were  ended,  and  the  sup]ier  had  been 
disposed  of.  Great  sjiort  was  had  at  tlie  husk- 
ings.  Then,  the  corn  was  not  husked  from  the 
stalk  as  it  is  today,  but  was  hauled  in  the  husk 
to  the  side  of  the  cribs,  wiiere.  when  divested  of 
its  husk,  it  would  be  thrown  directly  into  the 
crib.  This  done,  and  the  whole  neighborhood 
assembled  for  the  sportive  task,  "sides"  were 
chosen,  and  the  work  began.  .-\s  the  pile  had 
been  evenly  divided,  between  the  two  opposing 
sides,  the  work  of  husking  resolved  itself  into  a 
veritable  contest  between  the  two  factions,  each 
party  endeavoring  to  com]>lete  the  husking  of 
its  allotment  first.  ( )ne  of  the  rules  which  pre¬ 
vailed,  was,  that  whenever  a  male  husked  a  red 
ear  he  was  entitled  to  a  kiss  from  the  girls.  This 
was  sometimes  abused,  however,  as  it  has  been 
confided  to  us  by  one  of  the  "old  boys"  that  fo" 
days  before  the  husking  they  would  be  on  the 
alert  for  red  ears,  which  they  would  carry  with 


them,  and  then  at  frecpient  intervals  during  the 
evening,  produce  them,  claiming  to  have  just 
found  them  in  the  heap  before  them.  Thus 
many  a  laddie  has  kissed  his  lassie  under  the 
abused  privilege  of  the  red-ear  custom. 

The  amusements  of  that  day  were  more 
athletic  and  rude  than  those  of  today.  .Among 
the  settlers  in  a  new  country,  from  the  very 
nature  of  the  case,  a  higher  value  is  set  upon 
])hysical  than  mental  endowments.  Skill  in 
woodcraft,  superiority  in  muscular  development, 
accuracy  in  shooting  with  a  rifle,  activity  and 
swiftness  of  foot,  were  qualifications  which 
brought  their  possessors  fame.  Foot  racing  was 
often  ])racticed,  and  freipient  contests  were  en¬ 
tered  into  with  the  Indians.  Every  man  had  a 
rifle,  and  always  ke])t  it  in  good  order,  ready  for 
instant  use.  His  flints,  bullet-moulds,  screw¬ 
driver.  awl.  butcher-knife  and  tomahawk  were 
fastened  to  the  shot-i)ouch  strap,  or  to  the  belt 
around  his  waist.  .At  all  gatherings  wrestling 
and  junqiing  were  engaged  in.  Cards,  dice,  and 
other  gambling  devices  were  unknown.  If  dis- 
])utes  arose,  they  were  settled  by  a  fair,  hand 
to  hand  fight,  and  no  other  weapons  than  the 
fists  were  used. 

Hos])itality  was  one  of  the  dominant  vir¬ 
tues  of  the  pioneers,  a  stranger  never  being 
turned  from  the  door,  and  no  charge  ever  being 
made  for  the  entertainment  provided,  though 
sijinetimes  the  guest  freely  offered  something. 
( )ne  of  the  older  men  tells  us  that  he  has  seen 
as  manv  as  fifty  people  lodging  upon  the  floor 
of  his  father's  house,  while  in  attendance  upon 
a  meeting  of  a  Ilaptist  association. 

W  hile  we  would  not  step  back  into  the 
])ioneer  days,  if  we  could,  we  may  still  sigh  for 
some  of  the  noble  traits  and  characteristics, 
unknown  now.  which  di.sappeared  with  the  pass¬ 
ing  of  the  (  )ld  Pioneer. 


39 


WINNOWED  GLEANINGS  EROM  OEEICIAL  RECORDS. 


(llAPrEK  VI. 


To  the  majority  of  human  hoinfjs  it  is  ever 
a  source  of  pleasure  and  a  matter  of  interest,  to 
^et  a  f^limpse  of  the  i)ast.  'I'here  are  severaK 
ways  in  wliieh  this  may  ))e  aceomplished.  ( )nc 
of  the  most  pleasiira1)le  is  that  of  tradition. 
\\  ho  amoii”'  us,  is  not  delit^hted  when  permit¬ 
ted  to  sit  in  the  circle  of  those  whose  locks  have 
been  silvered  by  the  snows  of  many  winters; 
whose  eves  have  ^rown  dim  and  their  steps 
more  slow  and  feeble,  and  listen  with  eagerness 
as  their  minds,  still  bright  and  strong,  and  filled 
with  thoughts  of  the  past,  wander  back  over  the 
vears.  and  they  recount  the  incidents  and  hap¬ 
penings  of  early  days?  How  the  eye  brightens, 
and  the  cheek  takes  on  lustre,  and  the  voice 
grows  strong  and  animated,  as  the  olden  memor¬ 
ies  take  i)ossession  of  the  mind ;  and  how  pleased 
they  are  when  one  will  attentively  listen  to  the 
reminiscences  which  are.  to  them,  the  renewal 
of  their  youth!  It  is  from  such  that  we  gather 
much  of  the  truest  history — that  which  cannot 
be  gathered  from  any  other  source.  Blessings 
on  the  wrinkled  brow  and  whitened  head !  May 
thev  always  be  revered  and  sacred  to  us. 

Another  source  of  information  relative  to 
matters  ])ast,  is  the  official  record  :  and  from  this 
we  ])uri)ose  gleaning  this  chapter  of  our  His- 
torv.  This,  too,  gives  us  an  insight  into  the 
manners  and  customs  which  prevailed  in  the 
earlier  day,  and  owing  to  the  kindly  courtesy  of 
the  officials,  we  arc  permitted  to  produce  for  our 


])atrons  and  friends  many  interesting  exceqits 
from  the  official  records  of  Shelby  county.  Some 
of  these  which  we  have  selected  will  ai)peal  Un 
the  humorous,  and  still  will  give  us  a  good  idea 
of  the  simi)le,  hontely  manners  which  were  of 
sufficient  “jjolish”  to  serve  all  i)urposes  of  the 
pioneers.  As  some  of  the  extracts  will  be  copied 
verbatim,  it  may  be  seen  that  the  old  spelling 
book  was  not  a  very  po])ular  volume;  that  caj)- 
italization  .'.nd  punctuation  were  practically  un¬ 
known  arts;  still  a  thorough  km)w ledge  of  these 
things  does  not  seem  to  have  been  necessary  in 
order  to  add  to  the  legality  of  any  document  or 
transaction  in  law.  We  refrain  from  further 
comment,  and  co])y 

Till-:  FIRST  M.\RR1.\GK  LICKXSF  NOW 
OX  RliCORD. 

“State  of  Illinois,  Shelby  County.  "J'he  people 
of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

"To  all  to  whom  these  ])resents  may  come, 
('■reeting:  Know  ye.  that  license  and  ])ermis- 
sion  are  granted  unto  any  judge  of  the  supreme 
court,  or  any  inferior  court  in  the  State  of  Illi¬ 
nois,  any  justice  of  the  ])eacc.  or  licensed  minis¬ 
ter  of  the  gospel  in  Shelby  county,  to  join  to¬ 
gether  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony,  as  man 
and  wife,  W .  1.  Provalt,  and  Miss  Lidy  Wilborn. 
now  both  of  Shelby  county,  according  to  law  and 
custom  of  this  state,  and  for  so  doing  this  shall 
be  their  sufficient  warrant. 

"W’itness,  Joseph  ( )liver,  clerk  of  the  Coun¬ 
tv  Commissioners’  court  of  Shelbv  countv.  and 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


his  private  seal,  no  official  seal  provided  yet.  at 
Shelhyville.  this  third  day  of  ( )ctober,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  and 
of  American  Independence,  the  52(1. 

••JOSEPH  OLIVER,  Clerk. 

"County  Com.  Court." 

HARRI.\(',E  LICEXSE  NO.  loo. 

W’e  also  transcribe  the  looth  marriage  li¬ 
cense  which  was  issued  by  the  clerk  of  the  court, 
showing  a  slight  change  in  the  construction 
from  that  of  the  one  above  : 

“State  of  Illinois.  Shelby  County.  The  j^eople 
of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

“To  all  to  whom  these  presents  may  come. 
Creeting ;  Know  ye.  that  license  and  permis¬ 
sion  is  hereby  granted  to  any  licensed  minister 
of  the  gospel,  judge  or  justice  of  the  i)eace.  in 
the  County  of  Shelby,  and  State  of  Illinois,  to 
solemnize  the  rites  of  matrimony  between  John 
W.  Sadler  and  Miss  Pashaba  Lindly.  m^w  both 
(E  the  county  and  state  aforesaid. 

“W  itness.  Joseph  Oliver,  clerk  of  the  Coun¬ 
ty  Ccjmmissioners'  court  of  said  county  of  Shel¬ 
by.  and  state  aforesaid,  this  i /th  day  of  Xovem- 
ber.  1830.  “JOS.  OLU'ER.  Clerk. 

“Issued  on  oath  of  Jno.  Whitley.  Sr." 

W  e  a])pend  the  following  certificate,  which 
is  endorsed  upon  the  back  of  the  above  license  : 

“1  do  certify  that  on  the  eighteenth  day  of 
november  I  joined  together  in  matrimony  John 
Sadler  and  ISashaba  Lindly.  accorden  to  law  this 
the  30  day  of  november  1830. 

“JOSEPH  P,.\KER.  J.  p." 

It  seems  that  in  those  early  days  no  young 
man  and  woman  could  get  a  marriage  license, 
without  first  having  secured  the  consent  of  the 
])arents  of  both  the  contracting  parties.  X'early 
all  of  these  licenses  are  accompanied  by  the 


written  consent  of  parents.  We  cojiy  a  few 
which  are  varied  in  construction  of  both  words 
and  sentences : 

PAREXTAL  COXSEXT. 

“IMr.  Robberds  pleas  giv  james  Homes 
licens  to  marry  Melissia  Reed 

“J.\MES  P.  REED" 

“d'his  is  to  certify  that  1  have  given  my 
consent  to  the  Marriage  (jf  my  S(jn  william 
graham,  and  Caly  (Sally)  Sawyers  as  witness 
my  hand  this  7th  of  July.  1830. 

“JOXATHAX  (',RAHAM." 
".VMOS  \  EXTREES. 

“JAMES  CRAH.'i.M  L.  D." 

.Vccompanying  the  above  is  the  following 
from  the  father  of  the  happy  young  damsel  be- 
forementioned  : 

“This  is  to  certify  that  I  have  given  my 
Conscent  To  the  marriage  of  my  Daughter  Cala 
(Sally)  Sawyer  and  WilhanI  graham,  sun  of 
Jonathan  graham,  as  witness  my  hand  this  7 
Day  July.  1830.  “CILVRLES  SAWYER." 

"Test. 

“DAXIEL  LIXDEX. 

“J(  )HX  SAWYER.” 

The  “licens."  to  the  issuance  of  which  the 
above  “conscent"  was  given,  was  duly  secured 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  amorous  twain 
enjoyed  for  many  years  the  consecpient  conjugal 
felicity. 

“To  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commishern 
Court  of  Shelby  County,  this  is  to  give  you  to 
no  that  you  are  at  Liberty  to  give  Liseiice  to 
Henerv  South  and  Sarah  Hall  to  be  joined  as 
man  and  wife.  “WM.  H.\LL.  Sen." 

( )n  the  back  of  the  license  issued  in  re¬ 
sponse  to  the  recpiest  of  the  above  mentioned 
parties,  ajipears  this  endorsement  of  the  justice 
of  the  peace  who  performed  the  ceremony : 


41 


Ills  TO  SIC  SA7{  TCU. 


‘‘1  do  hereby  Certify  that  1  Solonionised  the 
witliin  on  tlnirsdav,  the  30  of  oct.  1S28. 

‘■LK\  I  CAvSKV." 

"'ro  Mr.  Josepli  (  )liver,  Clarke  of  the 
Conntv  Conii.sinor.s  cort. 

“this  is  to  certify  tliat  1  _y;ive  you  leave  and 
am  \vil]inj>'  that  you  shold  ijive  or  j^rant  lissons 
to  marry  this  frau  under  my  hand  this  10  of 
may  1830.  "JOIIX  \V.\('.(  ).\XKR. 

"test 

••j(  )IIX  WIIITCEV  Sen." 

It  is  a  matter  of  conjecture  as  to  wliether 
one  condition  n])on  wliich  tlie  consent  was 
ii'ranted  was  that  the  "frau”  slioiild  he  married 
under  the  outstretclied  hand  of  tlie  i)arent  :  or 
tliat  as  he  wrote  he  had  liis  liand  u])on  her  head 
in  parental  blessing :  or  did  he  belonj^  to  that 
very  numerous  class  of  men  to  whom  it  is  a 
matter  of  j)ride  to  have  the  w(^men  of  the  house¬ 
hold  "uuder  their  thumb?"  It  is  to  be  hoped  it 
was  not  the  latter. 

h'ollowing,  we  have  a  copy  of  the  license 
and  certificate  of  marria<>'e  (jf  a  coui)lc  of  Shel¬ 
by's  |)o|)ular  youn^  ])eoi)le  in  the  “20's:” 

“Know  ye,  that  license  and  ])ermission  is 
hereby  "ranted  to  any  licensed  minister  of  the 
s^ospel,  judj^e.  or  justice  of  the  ])cace.  in  the 
county  of  Shelby  and  state  of  Illinois,  to  join  in 
marraj^e  .Mr.  Jeremiah  Dunn  and  Miss  Xancy 
'I'nll.  now  both  of  the  county  of  Shelby  and  state 
aforesai<l. 

“W  itness.  13th  of  December.  1829. 

"J(^SRl‘fT  OLIV  ER.  Clerk. 

Emdorsement : 

“W  illiam  Siler  enters  himself  as  security  for 
the  Maid  in  the  alxjve  license. 

"W’lLfMAM  SILER. 

“Issued  on  oath." 

on  the  16th  Day  of  December,  1829.  f 
solemized  the  bonds  of  matrimonv  between 


Jeremiah  Dun  and  nanCy  full  "iven  under  my 
hand  and  seal  this  first  th  Day  of  march  1830. 

“LhA  1  JORD.VX  J  p" 

In  stroll"  contrast  to  the  certificates  of  mar¬ 
riage  of  the  present  day.  which  are  truly  beau¬ 
tiful  productions  of  art.  are  the  certificates  to 
be  found  in  the  official  records  of  by-gone  dec¬ 
ades,  a  few  of  which  we  append.  Still  the 
blushing  bride  of  the  early  jiart  of  the  century 
prized  just  as  highly  and  treasured  just  as  jeal¬ 
ously  the  little  scraj)  of  parchment  upon  which 
was  scrawled  in  uncouth  words  the  record  of 
her  marriage  to  the  man  she  loved,  as  now  the 
bride  of  the  present  delights  in  the  tastefully 
executed  record  of  her  own  marriage. 

.M . \  R  R 1. \ c,  1*:  c  !<:  R 'r  1  h'  I  c . \ 'I' !•: s . 

Certificate  of  the  marriage  of  .Mr.  IL 
W'oollen  and  iMiss  T.  Hall: 

“1  do  hereby  certify  the  within  was  duelev 
executed  on  the  27  day  of  July  1831  by  me  S 
.Alljihin  J  j)." 

If  the  above  is  to  be  taken  literally  we 
wonder  what  was  the  crime  of  which  this  couple 
was  guilty,  that  should  lead  to  their  “execution" 
upon  theii  wedding  day? 

“State  of  Illinois,  Shell)}'  County  January 
the  17  .V.  d.  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
thirty  too  I  solinized  the  wrights  of  .Matrimony 
Retween  Robot  (Robert)  Tem|)elton  and  ])hebe 
horn. 

“(jiving  under  my  hand  and  Seal  this  the 
17  of  Jan  1832.  RAKER.  J.  R." 

“State  of  Illinois.  Shelby  county. 

“this  is  to  certify  that  Manage  was  cilli- 
brated  betwi.xt  Thomas  duty  and  Sally  Skean  on 
the  seventh  of  X'ovember  1827  by  me 

“SHELTOX  ALLPHIX  Jp." 


42 


HIS  TORIC  SHE  TCH. 


Though  the  peculiarly  worded  lines,  mis¬ 
spelled  words  and  utter  ignorance  of  punctua¬ 
tion.  all  crude  in  themselves,  make  the  above 
extracts  from  the  records  seem  ludicrous  to  the 
reader,  still  underneath  it  all  runs  the  same  old 
story  of  love  and  embarrassment,  of  doubts  and 
fears  and  cocpietry,  of  the  wooing  of  the  one 
who  is  to  the  wooer  his  heart's  idol,  which  finds 
its  counterpart  in  every  modern  courtship.  These 
also  prove  that  in  those  years  the  youths  and 
maidens  de])ended  more  largely  upon  the  heart, 
rather  than  u])on  the  intellect,  for  their  mutual 
attraction  and  the  recomjtense  of  their  love. 

Some  one  has  .said:  "I  would  rather  live 
in  a  hut  that  1  had  built  with  my  own  hands 
toil-hardened  and  labor-stained ;  and  have  a 
grassy  path  leading  down  to  a  spring,  .so  that  I 
could  go  down  there  and  hear  the  water  gurgle 
from  the  lips  of  earth,  like  a  ])oem  whispered 
to  the  white  pebbles :  and  have  some  lattice 
work  at  the  window  so  the  sunlight  could  fall 
in.  checkered,  on  the  babe  in  the  cradle:  an<l 
some  hollyhocks  and  trees,  with  the  birds  sing¬ 
ing  and  swinging  in  their  branches — 1  would 
rather  have  these,  and  be  with  the  woman  1  love 
than  to  reign  in  a  ])alace  with  a  (|ueen.  whose 
heart  I  did  not  ])ossess." 

W'e  turn  aside  from  the  conteni])lation  of 
that  in  which  there  is  much  sentiment,  and  at¬ 
tend  to  that  which  is  of  ])urely  commercial  na¬ 
ture.  In  the  early  days  of  the  county,  and,  in¬ 
deed.  for  many  years  after  its  organization  it 
was  necessary  for  any  one  engaging  in  business 
])ursuits  to  first  pay  license  for  the  privilege  of 
the  same.  W’e  copy  two  receipts  for  moneys  re¬ 
ceived  for  the  ])rivilege  of  retailing  merchan¬ 
dise,  and  of  running  a  show,  respectively,  which 
show  us  the  amount  of  ta.x  levied  for  such  ])riv- 
ileges  : 


RECEIPTS  FOR  LICEXSE  MONEY. 

"Received  of  George  H.  Beeler,  nine  dollars, 
being  the  amount  of  tax  for  retailing  foreign 
merchandise  for  one  year,  in  Shelbyville.  Illinois. 

"JOHN  H.\MILTOX. 

Treasurer." 

"Received  of  John  W’.  Maxwell,  five  dol¬ 
lars.  for  which  the  said  Ma.xwell  is  to  be  per¬ 
mitted  to  exhibit  a  show,  for  a  term  not  exceed¬ 
ing  one  week.  "JOHX  H.\MILTOX. 

Treasurer." 

RECEIPT  FOR  FIXE. 

\\  Inch  shows  that  even  those  who  impose  fines 
upon  others,  are  not  e.xempt.  themselves,  when 
they  have  broken  the  law  : 

"Received  of  B.  R.  Hunter,  $3.00  for  a 
fine  collected  off  of  Shelton  .Mljihin.  Estp.  this 
the  6th  of  September.  1831. 

"JOHX  H.\MILTOX. 

“Treasurer." 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  interesting  to 
note  that  from  .Ajiril  26,  1827,  to  March  4.  1833. 
a  jieriod  of  si.x  years,  only  forty-two  fines  were 
levied  and  ctillected.  These  amounted  in  sum 
total  to  Si 70,  and  were  imjiosed  in  cases  before 
nine  sejiarate  justices  of  the  jieace. 

PETITIOX  FOR  CH.XXGE  OE  EOCRTH 
EEECTIOX  DISTRICT. 

"To  the  Honorable  the  County  Commis¬ 
sioners’  Court  of  Shelby  county,  we.  the  under¬ 
signed  citizens  of  the  Fourth  Election  District, 
do  believe  that  the  place  of  holding  elections  at 
Arthur  Scott's  should  be  remooved  to  John 
Pervises  it  being  tbe  most  Sentral  Pint  in  this 
Election  District,  for  which  in  duty  bound  we 
shall  ever  Prev. 


43 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


••May  28,  1836;’ 

Attachc'd  to  tliis  are  fifty-five  names  of  citi¬ 
zens  of  Shelby  county.  In  rcsi)onse  to  this  i)eti- 
tion  the  place  of  holding-  electicms  was  ••re- 
inooved"  as  desired. 

( )ccasionally  we  see  a  criminally  indolent 
being  who,  when  the  cold  weather  approaches, 
would  as  soon  be  incarcerated  in  the  county 
bastile,  as  not,  because  he  knows  his  board  and 
lodging  is  assured  for  as  long  a  time  as  he  re¬ 
mains  a  public  charge.  Hut  this  was  not  true  of 
the  early  days  of  Shelby  county.  Then,  it  was 
the  rule  that  the  one  who  was  im])risoned  should 
])rovide  the  wherewithal  to  i)urchase  his  own 
food  ;  failing  to  do  this,  he  would  go  hungry 
unless  he  made  affidavit  and  gave  sufficient  proof 
of  his  inability  to  provide  such  means,  llelow, 
we  give  a  cojyv  of  such  affidavit. 

().\TH  OK  WILLIAM  WILSON. 

••State  of  Illinois,  County  of  Shelby. 

"He  it  remembered,  that  on  this  day  per¬ 
sonally  a])peared  William  Wilson,  in  the  jail  of 
said  county,  before  me,  J.  \\  .  Johnson,  an  act¬ 
ing  justice  of  the  ])eace  within  and  for  the  coun¬ 
ty  and  state  aforesaid,  and  made  oath  that 
he,  the  .said  Wilson,  was  not  able  to  pay  the 
necessary  •dyet'  and  other  things  for  his  susten¬ 
ance  while  in  jail. 

••Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me.  this 
23d  of  September.  1830. 

"J.  W.  JC^HXSOX,  J.  P." 
his 

“WILLIAM  (x)  WILSON.” 
mark 


••Whereas,  Prescilla  Law,  a  poor  woman, 
and  two  small  children,  came  to  my  house  some 
two  or  three  months  since,  without  any  means 
wherewith  to  subsist ;  your  petitioner  took 
them  in,  and  from  that  time  has  su|)i)orted 
them ;  the  woman  and  one-  child  the  most  of 
the  time  sick. 

••Therefore  your  ])etitioner  wishes  you  to 
make  him  some  compensation  for  his  trouble. 
.\nd.  furthermore,  to  make  some  further  pro¬ 
vision  for  the  said  poor  i)ersons. 

••Yours  res])cctfully, 

"October  Kst.  1832.  “H.\RRV  HONE." 

We  refrain  from  comment  on  the  following 
petitions;  they  s])eak  for  themselves: 


PETITION 


1R)R  ELECTION  PRECINCT. 


“We  the  sitisons  of  Shelby  county  on  the 
litle  wor  Hash  potishion  the  county  commish- 
ner  court  Held  at  Shelbiville  to  lay  us  of  a  pree- 
sinkt  to  rune  from  the  head  of  brush  creek  tim¬ 
ber  to  John  poes  on  the  fore  mild  creek  then 
Due  East  to  the  county  line  on  the  East  fork  of 
the  litle  wore  Hash  and  wish  the  place  of  hold¬ 
ing  Electtions  to  be  at  Amacy  Hails  also  we 
wish  one  constibile  and  jesstus  of  the  peace  and 
ing  Electtions  to  be  at  .\macy  Bails  also  we 
conveinent. 

•‘l)ertisherners  name 

“AMASSLV  HAILS  1 
"A.  C.  HUNTER  2 
"LEM  HAILS  3 
••JERAMIAH  DANIEL  3 
"NATHAN  DANIEL  4 
“JOSEPH  STIPHENS  5  ” 


PETITION  OF  HARNET  HONE. 

“To  the  Honorable,  the  County  Commis¬ 
sioner's  Court  of  Shelbv  countv; 


PETITION  FOR  REVIEW  OF  ROAD. 

•'to  the,  honorable  Court  of  Shelby  county  : 
'A\’e  the  undersigned  do  pray  for  a  revue 


44 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


of  a  rode  leading'  from  shelbivill  to  Danvill  in 
Vermillion  County  riming  with  the  tarehote  road 
as  fair  as  Whn.  J.  Ilennet's  esq  thince  hv  John 
W'hitlyes  hors  mill  to  the  County  loin  as  there 
is  no  road  as  yet  through  this  section  of  our 
County  we  the  undersignors  do  pray  your  hon- 
erahle  hoddy  to  grant  us  said  road  as  it  will  he 
usefuj  to  the  inhahitance  of  this  county  and  also 
to  the  travillers  and  hy  so  doing  yon  will  confer 
a  grate  favour  on  vour  umhle  petitioners 


August  the  ith,  1831 

“Levi  Jordan 
"Jose])h  Reed 
James  Albet 
"L.  H.  Dunn 
"John  Rose 
"James  Raker 
"Daniel  Davis 
"John  A  Raker 
"William  Rose 
"Josiah  R.  Tull 
"James  McDamiel 
"R.  W'.  Siler 
W  in.  W  hitley 
"Evan  Raker 
"William  McDaniel 
"John  W'agonner 
".\ndrew  Weeks 
".\lfred  fortner 
"Alfred  Walles 
"Jordan  Rail 
“Levy  daily 
"('lilhert  Waggoner 
"Jacoh  walles 
"  Raszel  weeks 
"John  ahhit 
Janies  Ledbetter.  Jr 
"Mills  Whitley 
‘Tshani  Hardy 
“Foley  waggoner 


"Reter  .Allgood 
"James  Renford 
"James  Walles 
"(leorge  Wageonor 
"Elias  Car 
“Smaiiel  Miles 
"W  illiam  W  alker 
"Reter  Kirk 
“Joshua  Randle 
"Daniel  Smith 
"Hiram  little 
"Renjamin  Moherly 
“John  W eger 
"Jol'.n  Whitley  Sr 
"Right  Litele 
“John  Whitley  Jr 
"thomas  Randal 
"Jeremiah  Dannel 
"Fredderick  Ronce 
"Elisha  W  aggoner 
"I’rior  Rrallv 
"Sam  Rougher 
"Jesse  Crouder 
"J.  A\  .  Edwards 
"Alilton  Cox 
"Robert  W  eger 
"thomas  Weger 
"Jacob  Rougher 
"William  Fierce 


"Harman  Sinith 
"J,  W  .  Lovins 
"Talman  Smith, 
"Sharp  Whitley 
"Henry  Aliller 
"Thomas  Rougher 
"Robert  dunken 
"James  Ledbetter 
"Hugh  Walden 

"James 


".Aron  price 
"William  Hannon 
"Gideon  Edwards 
"James  W.  Herod 
“William  Welch 
“Clinton  Little 
"John  Rrally  Esc|. 
"Green  W  ornalk 
"Renjamin  Wornalk 
Cronnover." 


CERTIEIC.XTE  .\XD  ().\TH  RELATIVE 
TO  EXTERLXC.  L.VXD. 

"d'he  south-west  (piarter  of  the  north-west 
(piarter  of  section  27.  township  eleven  north, 
range  three  east,  of  the  third  principal  meridian. 
"State  of  Illinois.  Shelby  County,  ss. 

"1  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  land  above 
described  is  intended  to  be  entered  for  m\'  own 
liersonal  use  and  benefit,  and  not  in  trust  for 
another;  and  the  same  is  intended  for  cultiva¬ 
tion  ;  and  that  I  have  not  entered,  under  the  .Act 
of  the  4th  of  Alarch  1832.  nor  under  the  .Act  of 
the  2(1  of  June,  1833,  at  this  nor  any  other  land 
office  in  the  I'nited  States,  any  land  in  (juarter 
(piarter  sections,  in  my  own  name  or  in  the 
name  of  any  other  jierson. 

her 

"ELIZ.M’.ETH  (.X)  HAR.MOX. 
mark 

"Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me.  this 
22(1  of  June.  183(4 

“EDWWRD  E\  Y.  J.  R.  S.  C." 


RROMISSORV  XOTE. 

"( )nc  day  after  date  I  promi.se  to  ])ay  Mor¬ 
gan  Rryant  or  order  the  sum  of  twenty-three 
Dollars  and  eighteen  and  three-fourth  cts  for 


45 


HISTORIC  SKHTCH. 


value  received  of  liini,  haring^  ten  ])er  cent  from  ing  to  compare  the  valuations  with  those  (jf  the 
(lite  until  i)ai(l  this  April  the  (jth,  i860.  same  aricles  at  the  ])resent. 

"JAMES  STOUT.” 


ORDIvR  .\X1)  RECK  N’T. 

“Mr.  John  giles  J.  1*.  yon  will  ])lease  to  ])ay 
C.  Mnsser  the  balance  due  me  on  that  judgment 
of  mine  against  llricker.  and  this  shall  bee  yonr 
receii)t.  "R.M'E  WARNER." 


AEEID.WIT. 

“State  of  Illinois,  Shelby  County,  December  16, 
1 870. 

“I,  J.  R.  Sawyer,  tins  day  has  Made  oats 
before  R.  1.  llrnmfield,  that  he  does  verrybly 
deleaves  that  I,  R.  Reason  Did  on  the  night  of 
the  15  of  Dec  1870  take  and  Carry  away  on 
Rocket  l)Ook  Containing  Eleven  Dollars  and 
some  other  Papers  Relonging  to  John  R.  Saw¬ 
yer.  “JOHN  R.  S.\WVER. 

“Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  day, 
December  the  i6th,  1870. 

“K.  T.  RRUMEIEED,  J.  P.” 

ESTRAV  NOTICE. 

“Taken  u])  by  E.  M.  Riggs  in  Holland 
townshi])  Shelby  Co.  Illinois  Dec  the  9  1869  one 
roan  yearling  stear  read  roan  white  face  crop  of 
the  left  ear  and  under  half  crop  in  the  right  ear, 
(  )ne  vearling  heifer  very  small  of  her  age  red  on 
her  back  the  rest  of  her  is  more  a  roan  than  any 
other  color.  Crojj  of  each  ear  under  slope  in 
each  ear  and  the  bush  of  the  tail  off. 

“E.  M.  RIGGS." 

The  following  extract  from  a  judgment  re¬ 
ceived  in  1830  is  unique  in  itself,  and  furnishes 
the  reader  some  idea  of  the  value  of  certain 
articles  in  that  early  period.  It  will  be  interest- 


h:XTR.\CT  EROM  JUDGMENT 

received  before  the  Court  of  Probate,  Nov.  30. 
1830.  for  the  recovering  of  certain  i)ro])erty  be¬ 
longing  to  the  estate  of  William  Chandler,  de¬ 
ceased  : 

“'I'lie  following  projierty  which,  bv  the 
judgment  of  the  .said  court,  it  a])pears  to  belong 
to  the  .said  estate,  to-wit : 

“(  )ne  Rifle  Gun,  molder  and  wifers,  one 
heather  bead:  <;ne  foot  adds;  4  Puter  plates; 
Rottom  of  one  Puter  dish;  one  spoon;  one 
water  ])ail  ;  3  tin  cups;  one  Read  (luilt ;  one 
Counter|)in  ;  two  knives  and  two  folks ;  one 
Hymn  Rook;  one  Ruble ;  one  Arithmetic;  one 
sugar  trunk  and  cme  Sugar  box. 

“J()S1H*H  ()EI\’1%R,  Judge  of  Probate." 


EXTRACT  EROM  APPR.MSEMENT  RIEL 
OE  WILLIAM  CH.XNDLER. 


“( )ne  bell  and  collar . 

( )ne  slate . 

(hie  Small  Rottle . 

( )ne  vile  . 

( )ne  (juart  botle . 

( )ne  Rasor . 

( )ne  vile  of  antemonial  wine . 

One  whetestone . 

one  jiare  of  hames . 

one  tea  plate . 

two  Drest  deer  skins . 

one  raccoon  skin . 

one  dogskin . 

one  parsel  of  shoemaker's  tax . 

five  fish  hooks . 

One  bunch  of  black  pajier . 


$1.12 
•  -25 

.12 
.06 


•25 

.  1 2 
.12 
.12 
.04 
.62 
.06 

•25 

.12 

.18 

.06 


1-2 


1-2 

1-4 


1-2 

1-2 

1-2 

1-2 

1-4 


1-2 

3-4 

1-4 


46 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


(  )ne  parsel  of  all  spice . o6  1-4 

Six  pnter  spoons . 37  1-2 

three  tea  spoons . 12  1-2 

one  cofifee  pote . 12  1-2 

twelve  all  Iliads . 18  3-4 

two  lirest  chaines . 50 

one  how .  1 .00 

one  swindle  tree . 50 

one  lllowing'  horn . .  .25 

one  peace  of  led . 31  1-4 

one  Ax .  1.75 

one  bunch  of  tobacco .  1.00 

one  Cole . 03 

one  tronke .  1.50 

five  netino-  needles . 04 

one  pare  of  pote  hooks . 25 

one  tin  trumpet . 03 

one  scdlete  and  bead .  i.oo 

one  peas  of  a  log  chain . 62  1-2 

We  add  a  few  items  from  the  "inventorv 
bill”  of  the  estate  of  .\sa  Ledbetter,  which  show 
the  prevailing  valuation  of  live  stock,  in  1831  : 
2  cows  and  calves,  $8  each . $16.00 

1  bull .  7.00 

2  heifers,  $3  each  .  .- .  6.00 

8  head  of  shee]),  $1.50  each .  12.00 


REPORT  CON'CERXIXG  POOR  HOUSE. 

We  copy  in  full  the  report  of  County  Physi¬ 
cian  Harnett,  concerning  the  conditions,  needs, 
etc.,  of  the  Poor  House,  in  1874.  It  contains 
some  very  good  things,  which  may  be  of  as 
great  interest  to  Shelby  county  peo])le  as  they 
were  thirty  years  ago : 

“To  the  Honorable  Hoard  of  Supervisors 
of  Shelby  County.  Illinois: 

"(lentlemen  :  .As  this  will  be  your  last 
meeting  of  the  board  during  this  present  year 
1  will  submit  the  following  report,  which  1 
hope  will  not  be  without  some  interest : 

"Whole  number  of  ])au])ers  since  last  re¬ 


port.  seventeen  (17):  number  at  present  on  the 
farm,  si.xteen  ( 16),  five  (5)  males,  and  eleven  ( i  1  ) 
females,  of  whom  two  (2)  of  the  males  and  four 
(4)  of  the  females  are  idiots.  One  male  and  one 
female  are  blind :  one  insane.  As  is  usual  at 
alms  houses,  ver\'  few  of  these  paupers  can  per¬ 
form  any  manual  labor. 

".At  the  last  time  our  county  sent  some  in¬ 
sane  persons  to  the  southern  asylum,  the  institu¬ 
tion  would  receive  three  (3).  \\'hether  the  insti¬ 
tution  was  full,  or  that  was  the  largest  number 
our  county  was  entitled  to,  1  am  not  aware. 
If  this  unfortunate  creature  could  be  sent  there 
now.  or  very  soon,  I  would  urge  the  board  in 
regard  to  it.  as  our  poor  house,  (and,  indeed, 
almost  any  other)  is  illy  pre])ared  to  keep  an  in¬ 
sane  person  :  and  surely  these  unfortunate  crea¬ 
tures  are  entitled  to  our  sympathies  and  the  best 
home  they  can  get.  while  they  have  to  sojourn 
beneath  the  dark  cloud. 

"There  is  one  boy  there,  a  bright  lad,  of 
Charles  Reynolds,  that  should  not  be  there;  the 
surroundings  of  any  poor  house  not  being  the 
most  favorable  for  such  a  boy.  He  should  be 
l)rovided  with  a  home  elsewhere. 

"The  management  of  the  farm,  under  its 
present  su])erintendent.  is  certainly  all  that 
could  be  exjjected  ;  and  as  the  care  and  welfare 
of  the  pauj^ers  dei)end  more  particularly  on  the 
kindness  and  efficiency  of  the  woman  that  is  at 
the  head  of  the  domestic  department.  I  can  truly 
congratulate  the  board  and  county  in  having 
such  an  one  in  the  present  Superintendent's 
Lady. 

"Everv  humane  citizen  will  rejoice  when 
the  anticiiiated  new  building  will  be  erected : 
when  all  persons  who  are  actually  in  need  of  as¬ 
sistance  can  be  cared  for.  I  think  the  farm  can 
be  made  self-sustaining,  if  the  board  will  be  care¬ 
ful  to  ado|)t  the  true  method  :  which  I  think  con- 


47 


Ills  TOR/C  SA'/i  TCII. 


sists  in  t“ini)l()_vinjf  tlie  best  man  and  wife  tliat  can 
be  bad  for  the  ])rice,  and  not  as  some  counties 
do — employ  a  man  and  woman  sim])ly  l)ecause 
tliey  are  eliea]).  when,  in  fact  in  point  of  ef¬ 
ficiency  they  are  not  more  than  one  dej^ree 
above  the  ])anpers  themselves.  Sometimes  chil¬ 
dren  of  j^ood,  ordinary  intellect  find  their  way 
to  the  alms  house,  which  is  their  saddest  feature. 
W  hat  can  be  more  dreary  than  the  future  pros¬ 
pects  of  a  jiauper  child?  The  su])erintendent 
should  be  instructed  to  find  homes  for  all  such 
as  soon  as  i)ossible.  in  the  hope  of  liftiiii^  them 
out  of  their  forlorn  condition. 

■■'rile  imiirovement  of  our  ])oor  house  sys¬ 
tem.  1  think,  would  be  s^reatly  facilitated,  were 
this  abode  of  misery  more  often  visited  by  the 
better  class  of  citizens  in  the  county.  It  would 
i^ive  encourai^ement.  and  be  an  incentive  to  the 
superintendent  to  do  his  utmost  to  make  the 
place  as  nearly  as  jiossible  what  it  should  be. 

■■('meat  care  ouj^ht  to  be  taken  in  the  ad¬ 
mission  of  inmates,  not  to  exclude  any  who  are 
actually  in  need  of  assistance,  nor.  on  the  other 
hand,  to  allow  lazy  and  vicious  jiersons  to  be¬ 
come  pensioners  upon  public  bounty,  'riiorous^h- 
ness  in  the  disci])line  and  enpiloyment  at  hard 
labor,  in  jiroportion  to  their  strenj^th.  will  jire- 
vent  serious  inpiosition.  because  able-bodied 
befj^ars  will  not  submit  to  it.  'fhose  who  do. 
and  whose  fortunes  are  irremediable,  are  en¬ 
titled  to  symjiathy.  and  should  not  be  jiermitted 
to  sufifer  because  they  are  poor  and  unfortunate. 
'I'hey  should  be  made  comfortable,  and  the 
small  ex])ense  necessary  to  accomplish  this, 
ou«;ht  not  to  be  "rud"ingly  bestowed. 

■■Res])ectfully  submitted. 

■■J.  M.  HARXE'rT.  M.  D.. 

‘■County  Physician." 

In  connection  with  the  above  we  transcribe 
from  the  records  a  paragraph  from  the 


report  submitted,  at  the  July,  1K92,  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  by  Mr. 
Iligler.  of  the  committee  on  Poor  claims: 

"Mr.  Chairman,  and  (icntlemen  of  the 
Hoard  of  .^upervi-sors : 

■■\’our  committee  on  Poor  claims  would  beg 
leave  to  re])ort  that  we  have  examined  all  bills 
presented  to  us.  and  are  very  much  astounded 
over  the  enormity  of  the  sums  of  money 
claimed.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Pa  (irippe 
is  no  longer  ])revalent,  yet  by  a  perusal  of  the 
records  of  this  county  it  would  seem  as  if  a  cer¬ 
tain  number  of  doctors  had  the  “(jrip’’  on  the 
county  at  all  times.  In  the  meantime,  and  until 
the  law  is  changed  or  other  means  may  be  de¬ 
vised  for  the  relief  of  the  tax-payer  and  suffering 
humanity,  we  recommend  the  payment  of  the 
following  claims.” 

TllK  FIRST  X’EXIRE  OFCR.kXDJCRORS 

At  a  session  of  the  county  commissioners' 
court,  held  at  the  house  of  Barnet  Bone,  in  June 
1827.  the  following  named  persons  were  selected 
to  serve  as  the  first  grand  jurors  of  Shelby 
county : 

"James  Renshaw,  Jacob  Elliott,  Isaac  Bang- 
hoe,  Joseph  Robertson,  Thomas  Pamb,  John 
Richardson,  Mills  Whitley,  'I'liomas  Pugh. 
David  Beck,  Charles  W'akefield.  Jonathan  How¬ 
ard,  'I'homas  Robertson.  John  Pee.  Senr.,  David 
Hinton,  William  Hall.  Senr..  William  Miller. 
Shelton  .\llphin.  Robert  Kerlyle.  Pewis  Ped- 
better,  John  Weger,  Francis  Jordan,  James  Jor¬ 
dan,  and  Pevi  Jordan.” 

.\t  the  same  session  of  the  commissioners' 
court,  the  following  named  [jersons  were  drawn 
as  the 


48 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


FIRST  PETIT  JL'RORS. 

"Jonathan  C.  Cawley,  William  Scribner. 
Rollo  Calvert,  L.  S.  Mosley.  John  Harris,  Reu¬ 
ben  Milton,  Daniel  Hoffman,  Abraham  Te- 
tricks.  Robert  Duncan,  Daniel  Price.  Xatban- 
iel  Hambleton,  Henry  Smith.  Lloyd  Lee.  John 
Walker.  Charles  Miller.  Senr.,  William  P.one 
Sharp  Whitley.  William  Little,  Senr..  Samuel 
l^ittle,  P.arnet  P.one,  Robert  David.  William 
Thomas,  and  Rufus  Immond." 

.\t  a  special  term  of  the  court,  held  at  the 
usual  place  of  meeting',  on  June  i6,  1827,  the 
commissioners.  Hon.  Levi  Casey  and  William 
Weger,  established  the  following 

ELECTION’  DISTRICTS. 

"( )rdered,  that  Shelby  county  he  laid  off  in 
tw  o  election  districts,  to-w  it :  Eirst  election 
district  to  commence  on  the  southern  boundary 
of  said  county,  running  north  as  far  as  Town¬ 
ship  thirteen  north,  shall  com])Ose  the  first  elec¬ 
tion  district,  to  he  called  Shelbyville  district ;  and 
that  William  Hall.  Senr..  Levi  Fleming,  and 
'I  homas  Pugh,  he  a])pointed  judges  of  the  elec¬ 
tion,  and  that  the  elections  he  held  at  the  home 
of  P.arnet  P.one. 

"Second  election  district  beginning  at  the 
northern  boundarv  of  Township  number  thir¬ 
teen  north,  and  running  north  as  far  as  the  coun¬ 
ty  of  Shelby  e.xtends  ;  and  that  Philip  1).  \\’il- 
lianis,  James  \\  ard  and  Elisha  Freeman  be  a])- 
pointed  judges  of  the  election  therein,  and  that 
the  elections  be  held  at  the  house  of  Leomard 
Stephens,  in  said  district.” 

P.y  order  of  the  commissioners’  court,  in 
1827,  an 


ESTRAY  PEN 

was  established.  It  was  built  on  the  west  half 
(jf  lot  number  eight,  in  block  number  two,  and 
was  eighty  feet  long,  by  seventy-si.x  feet  wide, 
constructed  of  oak  rails  and  mulberry  posts. 
John  Abbot  built  the  same,  receiving  nineteen 
dollars  as  remuneration  for  his  labor.  In  the 
following  year  the  pen  was  removed  to  lot  five, 
in  block  three,  and  reduced  in  size  to  fortv  feet 
long,  by  thirty-eight  feet  wide.  Thomas  Lee 
received  the  unused  posts  and  rails  as  compensa¬ 
tion  for  the  labor  of  removing  it. 

FIRST  LICENSE  GRANTED  FOR  KEEP¬ 
ING  OF  A  GROCERY. 

‘‘County  commissioners’  court.  Dec.  3.  1827. 

“( )n  application  of  Elias  IMiller,  of  Shelbv 
county,  to  keep  a  grocery,  commonly  called  a 
tippling  shop,  in  said  county,  near  Shelbyville. 
at  the  dwelling-house  of  sai<l  ^filler,  it  is  granted 
him  ;  on  the  said  Elias  Miller  entering  into  bond 
in  the  ])enal  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars,  with 
John  Thomason  his  security,  and  the  said  Mil¬ 
ler  paying  into  the  county  treasury  the  sum  of 
five  dollars. 

“Therefore  ordered,  that  the  following 
tavern  rates  be  established  in  the  county  of  Shel¬ 
by.  viz  ; 

For  keeping  horse  twenty-four  hours.  .37  i-2c 


For 

keeping  horse  one  night . 

•  --"5 

For 

dinner . 

•  -5 

For 

breakfast  or  supper . 

•  -^5 

I- or 

lodging  one  night . 

.  .06  I 

-4 

For 

half  pint  of  brandv . 

■  -^5 

For 

half  pint  of  rum,  gin  or  cordial.  . 

•  AS 

For 

half  pint  of  whiskv . 

..121 

-2 

For 

horse  feed . 

.  .  12  I 

-2 

■As  will  be  seen  by  the  above  price  list,  a 


49 


■‘.grocery  man,"  or  more  ])ro])erly,  a 
keeper”  was  not  ])ermitte(l  to  arrantfe  liis  own 
prices,  but  had  to  eonfonn  to  those  prescril)ed 
l)y  tlie  eonnty  eoinmissioners'  court,  and  was, 
in  tliat  way,  prevented  from  extortins;'  from  liis 
])atrons  an  exliorhitant  i)rice.  W'e  are  led  to 
wonder  if  some  such  ride  would  not  he  a  j,jood 
thing  to  have  in  vogue  at  the  present  time? 

FKRRV  I'.OAT, 

'rile  first  ferry  lioat  across  the  Kaskaskia 
ri\er,  within  the  hounds  of  Shelh\’  comity,  was 
estahlished  in  Decemher,  1827,  hy  the  county 
court.  It  was  a  large,  tlat-hottomed  affair,  with 
cajiacity  for  wagon  and  several  horses,  or  a 
mnnher  of  head  of  cattle.  It  was  oiierated  on  the 
river  jnst  east  of  Shclhyville.  hy  1-Clias  Miller,  to 
whom  license  was  granted  hy  the  court,  and 
who  was  recpiired  to  ])ay  into  the  comity  treas¬ 
ury  the  sum  of  two  dollars  for  the  first  year, 
and  to  execute  a  hond  in  the  penal  sum  of  two 
hnndred  dollars.  'Pile  commissioners'  court  also 
estahlished  the  following  rates,  viz: 


h'or  wagon  and  four  horses . 50  c 

I'or  two  horse  wagon  . 37 

For  cart  and  oxen . 37  •■■2 

For  man  and  horse . 12  1-2 

For  footman.  .  .  ., . 06  1-4 

For  wagon,  or  cart,  and  one  horse . 25 

Single  horse . 06  1-4 

For  hogs  and  cattle,  jier  head . 03 


'PflK  FIRST  DFEI) 

executed  after  the  organization  of  Shelhy  county, 
was  that  of  \  alentine  I’razell,  and  Xancy,  his 
wife.  M  e  append  a  co])y  of  the  deed ; 

"To  all  to  whom  these  jiresents  shall  come, 
(Greeting ; 

‘‘Know  ve.  that  I.  \  alentind  llrazell,  and 


Xancy  llrazell.  his  wife,  of  the  Count v  of  Shelhv, 
and  State  of  Illinois,  for  and  in  consideration  of 
the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  to  me.  in  hand 
jiaid  hy  Jesse  11.  Conihs.  of  the  comity  and  state 
aforesaid,  the  receipt  whereof  we  do  herehy 
acknowledge,  and  ourselves  hereof  fully  satisfied 
and  contented,  and  thereof  and  of  every  part  and 
parcel  thereof,  do  exonerate,  acipiit,  and  dis¬ 
charge  him,  the  said  Jesse  11.  Conihs.  his  heirs, 
executors,  and  administrators  and  assigns  for¬ 
ever,  hy  these  jiresents  having  given,  granted, 
hargained,  sold,  aliened,  conveyed  and  confirmed, 
and  hy  these  presents  do  freely,  fully  and  ah.so- 
lutely  .give,  grant,  hargain,  and  sell,  alien,  con¬ 
vey,  and  confirm  unto  the  said  Jesse  II.  Conihs. 
his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  the  e:ist  half  of 
the  south-west  one-fourth  section  mnnher 
twenty-five,  township  mnnher  eleven,  north  of 
range  mnnher  three  east,  containing  eighty 
acres  of  the  lands  in  the  \  andalia  District.  State 
of  Illinois.  'Po  have  and  to  hold  the  said  granted 
and  hargained  premises  with  all  the  ajipurte- 
nances,  ])rivileges.  and  commodities,  to  the  same 
helonging,  or  in  any  wise  aiipertaining  to  him 
the  .said  Jesse  11.  Conihs,  his  heirs,  executors, 
administrators,  or  assigns,  forever,  to  his  own 
proper  use.  henefit,  and  hehoof  forever,  and  1, 
the  said  X'alentine  llrazell,  and  Xancy  llrazell 
his  wife,  for  ourselves,  our  heirs,  executors  and 
administrators  or  assigns,  do  covenant,  promise 
and  grant,  to  and  with  the  said  Jesse  11.  Conihs. 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  that  before  the  ensealing 
hereof,  1  am  the  true,  sole,  and  lawful  owner  of 
the  ahove-hargained  premises,  and  we  are  law¬ 
fully  seized  and  iiossessed  of  the  same  in  my  own 
proper  name  and  right,  as  a  good,  jierfect  and 
absolute  estate  of  inheritance  in  fee  simple,  anil 
have  in  myself  good  right,  full  power,  and  law¬ 
ful  authority  to  grant,  bargain,  sell,  convey,  and 
confirm  the  said  hargained  premises  in  man- 


II  IS  TORIC  SKR  TCI  I. 

"tavern 


50 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


ncr  and  form  as  aforesaid,  and  that  the  said 
Jesse  1>.  Combs,  liis  heirs  and  assij^ns,  shall  and 
may  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  forever 
hereafter,  by  force  and  virtue  of  these  ])resents 
lawfully,  and  ])eaceahly,  and  ([uictly  have,  hold 
and  occupy,  ])ossess  and  enjoy,  the  said  demised 
and  harg-ained  ])remises,  with  the  ai)i)urtenances 
free  and  clear,  and  freely  and  clearly  accpiitted. 
exonerated,  and  discharg'cd  of  from  all  and  all 
for  near  or  other  g'ifts,  "rants,  bargains,  sales, 
leases,  mort"af^es,  wills,  entails,  jointures,  dow¬ 
ries,  judg'ments,  executions,  or  incumbrances, 
of  what  name  or  nature  soever,  that  mig'ht  in  any 
measure  or  de^^ree  abstract  or  make  void  this 
])resent  deed. 

“Furthermore.  1,  the  said  Valentine  lirazell, 
and  Xancy,  his  wife,  for  ourselves,  our  heirs, 
executors  and  administrators,  do  covenant  and 
eiyo'ag'e  the  above-demised  premises,  to  him. 
the  said  Jesse  15.  Combs,  his  heirs  and  assij^ns 
forever,  against  the  lawful  claims  and  demands 
of  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  forever 
hereafter,  to  warrant,  secure,  and  defend  by  these 
presents. 

"W  itness  whereof  we  set  our  hands  and 
seals  this  eleventh  day  of  February,  A.  1).  1828. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered 

"In  the  presence  of 

"JOSEPH  ()L1\  EK. 
his 

‘A'AEEXTIXF  'x)  I'.RAZEEE. 

mark 

her 

“XAXCV  (x)  P.KAZELE." 
mark 

Josej)h  (diver,  who  was  then  clerk  of  the 
county  commissioners'  court,  certified  to  tin 
correctness  of  the  above  document. 


THE  EIRST  WILL— 1831. 

d'he  last  will  and  testament  of  Keneth 
-M elver,  was  the  first  to  he  presented  for  ])ro- 
hate  in  the  court  of  probate  of  Shelby  county. 
This  was  on  the  22(1  of  February,  1832,  and  read 
as  follows  : 

"In  the  name  of  (lod.  Amen.  1,  Keneth 
M elver,  of  Shelby  county,  and  State  of  Illinois, 
being  weak  of  body  hut  of  sound  mind  and 
memory,  do  make,  ordain,  and  establish  this  to 
he  my  last  will  and  testament,  hereby  revoking 
all  others,  and  do  hereby  ajipoint  Aleander 
Mclver,  my  beloved  wife,  to  he  my  executrix  of 
this,  my  last  will  and  testament. 

"It  is  my  will  that  all  my  just  debts  he  paid. 
1st.  After  my  just  debts  are  all  paid,  and  fu¬ 
neral  ex])enses,  1  do  hereby  devise  and  hecpieath 
unto  my  beloved  wife.  Aleander,  two  portions 
during  her  widowhood,  and  after  her  marriage 
one-half  of  such  ])ortion  to  be  e(|ually  divided 
among  the  remaining  legatees,  to-wit : 

“2(1.  To  my  beloved  daughter  Margaret, 
two  shares. 

"3(1.  To  my  beloved  daughter  Sally  W  ard, 
one  share. 

"And  to  my  beloved  daughter  Polly,  one 
share. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set 
my  hand  and  alifix  my  seal,  the  22d  day  of  De¬ 
cember,  1831. 

"KEXETH  McR’ER. 

r 

“Signed  and  acknowledged  bef(3re  us  :  (SEAL) 

“IL  W.  GORIX. 

"J.  W'.  X’AL'GHAX." 


HISTORIC  SKTTCII. 

ASSKSSMEXTS  ()E  SH ELI! V  COl'XTV. 

WK  (ilVK  A  COM  I’AKISON  OK  I' 1 1 K  ASSKSS  M  KN  TS  Oh  TIIK  VKARS  1<S59,  I  8<So,  AM)  I  <899. 
IN  1899,  UXDKR  I'llK  NKW  I, AW,  I'llE  ASSKSSI'.I)  VAI.CAIION  WAS  OXK-I  IFl'II  OK  IllK  RKAl. 
\A1.KK,  WllIl.K.  IX  1859  AXI)  1880  rilK.  ASSKSSi:  I )  V  A  I.K  AT  lOX  W  AS  OX  K.-'l' 1 1 1  R  1 )  Ol'  I'lIK  RKAI, 
\'ALrK.  I'llK  ASSKSSM  K.X'K  IS  AS  KOl.l.OWS  : 


1 

M'.MRKK. 

.VSSKS.SKI)  VAl.i: 

K. 

IK.-)!! 

ISSl) 

ISO!) 

1H.50 

iSSI) 

IHOO 

14.t).'>7 

10..)S7 

s  2:i7.27S 

li.")8.747 

s'  (i25..5:i0 

Neal  caltle . 

i:t.!K)T 

•.>4.10:4 

2.>.2(i5 

142.012 

:ioo.:i05 

t)0S.S99 

Mulfs  and  asses . . . 

.'UKJ 

1.4211 

i.;4;i7 

12.441 

40.705 

4S.744 

Sliccp . . 

It).!)(i2 

hi.O'li 

14.:4.54 

l(i.<)li2 

2:1.  soil 

47.00:4 

Ilofjs  . 

r-'H.!!:.’? 

4il..-.Tit 

.57.072 

:i'>.710 

07.514 

IU9.:)09 

Steani  cMKines.  iiicludiusf  lioilcrs . 

141'. 

;4o 

141', 

S.417 

:4o.2.5:t 

I'ire  and  Imrftlar-proof  safes  . 

.).> 

114 

1.7:20 

7.i>:i:i 

Milliard  and  other  tables . 

() 

11 

Carria^fes  ana  wajtons . 

l.TliH 

r).257 

I>2.;t40 

s(i.7i.) 

i:44.:44!l 

W  atelies  and  clocks . 

i.m'> 

4.052 

5.005 

11..5H7 

25.747 

Sewint;  and  UnittiiiK  machines . 

2.1. Vi 

19  7149 

:u.9;i9 

I’lanos  . 

1:’ 

110 

012 

1  .:«io 

s.oii2 

'27).77’A 

Melodeons  and  organs . 

1  .'272 

(>..504 

•i9  2'2^ 

Franchises .  . 

.4  000 

I’atent  rights . 

(fOods  and  merchandise. . 

42h  1.>o 

Materials  and  niamifacturcd  art icles  . 

(>.7.>0 

Manufacturers'  tools  and  machinery . 

•>  9:t7 

.V>  •*(>!) 

Agricurt nral  tools  and  machinery.  . 

79  979 

122.44  s 

(iold  and  silver  |)late  and  plated  ware.  ...  .. 

2,020 

Diamonds  and  jewelry .  .  . ... 

2.H40 

.Moneys  of  hank,  hankers,  brokers,  or  slock 

jobber .  . 

i:4o.:40:i 

Credits  other  than  l>ank.  bankers,  broker,  or 

Stock  jol)])er . . 

:t.:)99 

.Moneys  other  than  hank,  hankers,  broker,  or 

stockjobber . 

If'd.liilO 

Credits  other  than  hank,  hankers,  broker,  or 

stock  jobber . . 

•ua  •»!  1 

7i4.r)i.'> 

Ronds  or  stocks . 

7.:i:21 

i:m.9oo 

Rridge  property . 

2.>o 

I’roperty  of  saloons  and  eating  houses . 

790 

Ilouseliold  and  office  furniture . 

117.^49 

:t20.4:4s 

Vll  otiier  property  not  otherwise  listed  . 

:i:io.i47 

Doirs  . 

. 

;i..)07 

. 

.\SSESSE1) 

X'ALL'ATIOX 

:  OE  LAX  1)8  IX 

Rid^e . 

..  231.814 

46.508 

T(  )\VXSH1PS  ()E 

8HELP.V 

Pickawav.  .  .  . 

-  -  144.598 

29.979 

COLXTV— 1 

899. 

1  ’enn . 

.  .  .  107.440 

14.55: 

I  lolland  .  .  .  . 

86.752 

4.564 

25.599 

Per.  Prop. 

Shelby ville.  .  . 

-  -  144.348 

226,468 

253.844 

Land. 

Lots.  .Assd.  \’al. 

( )kaw . 

..  158.886 

12.339 

36, 1 2?. 

()conce..  .  . 

.  ..$  192403 

$  12.657  $  40.218 

Todd's  Point .  . 

..  118,434 

4.364 

14.613 

Herrick  .  .  . 

•  •  35- 154 

7.132  12.450 

Prairie . 

.  .  188.289 

20. 1 40 

41.049 

Cold  SprinjT 

•  ••  81.255 

77  16.796 

Richland . 

-  -  177.748 

13.054 

34.978 

Tower  Hill 

.  .  .  .  •  1 23.01  1 

21.117  30.688 

Windsor . 

. .  131 .280 

52. 1 75 

46,00 1 

Rural . 

...  .  181.507 

35-yoo 

8iRel . 

•  -  •  63,663 

1 2,460 

27,91- 

Pdat  llranch 

....  1 58.598 

19.723 

Pig  S])ring  ..  . 

.  -  -  103-054 

1.085 

20, 6r.' 

Moweatjua  . 

.  1 48-321 

69.760  58.341 

Ash  Grove  ... 

.  .  .  226,480 

43.998 

Hrv  Point  .  . 

....  138.703 

24.346  49-479 

Rose  .  .  .  . 

-  106.635 

4-938  24.720 

Total  . 

$924,0^0 

52 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Shelby  county  has  not  been  spared  the  dis¬ 
grace  of  having  within  her  borders,  criminals  of 
all  classes,  even  to  the  murderer,  and  pen^etra- 
tor  of  other  heinous  crimes.  I!ut  it  is  a  matter  of 
credit  to  her,  that  her  officers  have  ever  been 
zealous  in  a])])rehending  and  bringing  to  justice 
the  guilty  ones,  and  in  administering  adecpiate 
'punishment  to  the  misdoer.  W  e  append  a  few 
of  the  court  documents,  bearing  on  some  of  the 
earlier  cases : 

A  ML’RDER  CASIv 

“Tuesday  morning,  13th  April,  1S30. 
"Court  met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

“The  People  vs.  Penj.  W'arnock.  Indict¬ 
ment  for  murder.  lm])licated  with  Robert 
Carlyle. 

“On  this  day  came  the  defendant.  I’enjamin 
W’arnock.  in  oi)en  court,  and  enters  his  ai)pear- 
ance  in  this  case,  and  for  plea  says  he  is  not 
guilty  in  manner  and  form  as  are  alleged  in  the 
indictment,  and  to  which  plea  the  State's  .Attor- 
ney  joins  issue.  The  petit  jury,  summonsed  to 
attend  this  court,  being  discharged,  a  state's  jury 
was  ordered  to  be  summonsed,  to-wit ;  Isaac 
Martin,  James  A.  Raker,  David  Hinton,  James 
Ledbetter.  Rarnet  Rone.  W  illiam  Rone.  John 
Hill,  John  Richardson,  Isaac  Renfo,  and  Rennet 
Robinson,  who.  being  elected,  tried  and  sworn 
to  try  the  issue  joined  upon  the  oaths,  do  sav  that 
we.  the  jury,  find  the  defendant  not  guilty. 
Therefore  it  is  considered  by  the  court  now  here, 
that  the  defendant  be  discharged  and  go  hence 
without  delay." 

( )ne  of  the  most  im])ortant  cases  of  the 
early  days  was  tried  in  the  May  term  of  circuit 
court,  in  1842.  Robert  Sellars  was  indicted  for 
the  murder  of  James  Rodman.  .\t  his  trial  he 
was  found  guilty  of  murder  in  the  first  degree. 


and  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  The  following  is 
his  sentence,  as  appears  on  the  record  : 

“That  the  defendant,  Robert  Sellars,  be 
again  remanded  to  jail,  there  to  remain  until 
Tuesday,  the  21st  day  of  June  next,  when  he 
shall  be  taken  to  the  place  of  execution,  and 
there,  between  the  hours  of  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon  and  two  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  of 
that  day,  he  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  he  is 
dead." 

Through  the  efforts  of  his  attorneys,  Sellars 
was  granted  a  new  trial,  when  he  i)leaded  guilty 
of  manslaughter,  and  was  sentenced  for  eight 
years  to  hard  labor  in  tbe  ])enitentiary.  Upon 
his  release  at  the  exi)iration  of  his  sentence,  he 
returned  to  this  county,  and  was  soon  afterward 
killed  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse. 

A  CASK  OF  FLOCCIXC. 

“Peoi)le  vs.  John  Spalding.  Indictment  for 
Larceny. 

“The  said  ])eo])le  by  the  atttirney  a])peared 
in  court;  and  the  defendant,  in  his  proiier  person, 
and  for  plea  says  he  is  not  guilty  in  manner  and 
form  as  is  alleged  in  said  indictment — to  which 
plea  the  people  joined  issue.  W  hereu])on  came 
a  jury,  to-wit:  William  E.  W’egcr,  .\ndrew 
Miller,  W  illiam  Martin,  Renjamin  Dubney,  Ren- 
jamin  Moberly,  Jonathan  Hill,  John  Tijisoaid. 
John  Whitley,  Sen.,  Allen  Reed.  Joseph  Reed. 
John  .\bbet,  Jr.,  and  Daniel  Siscoe — who,  being 
elected,  tried  and  sworn  well  and  trulv  to  trv  the 
issue  joined  on  their  oaths,  do  say  :  ‘W  e,  the  jury, 
find  the  defendrnt  guilty  in  manner  and  form  as 
in  said  indictment,  mentioned  to  be  of  the  value 
therein  stated.'  and  the  said  jurors  were  there¬ 
upon  discharged  until  tomorrow  morning  at  nine 
o'clock,  to  which  time  the  court  adjourned. 


no 


HISTORIC  SKRTCII. 


'I'uesday  niorniii}^,  Sc’p.  idtii,  1828. 
"Court  met  ])ursuant  to  adjournment.  IVe.sent, 
"H(  )X.  T.  W.  SMITH.  Judfre. 
■■'Phe  l’eo])le  v.s.  Jolm  Spaldiiyij.  Indictment 
for  Larceny. 

"Thi.s  day  the  pri.soner  was  led  to  the  bar 
by  the  sheriff,  and  havinj^  nothin”'  to  say  why 
jnd^ment  should  oiot  be  i)rononnced  ai^ainst 
him.  it  is  ordered  and  adjudged  by  the  court  now 
here,  that  the  defendant.  John  Spaldiii”^.  receive 
for  the  offense  aforesaid,  thirty-nine  lashes  on 
his  hare  hack,  and  the  sheriff  of  Shelby  county, 
between  the  hours  of  twelve  o'clock  and  two 
o’clock,  on  this  day.  execute  this  judgment.  .And 
it  is  further  ordered,  adjndf^ed  and  directed  that 
the  defendant  make  his  fine  to  the  people  of  this 
state,  in  the  sum  of  two  dollars  and  seventy-one 
cents,  heinj^  one-half  the  value  of  the  articles 
stolen,  and  that  he  he  im])risoned  for  the  term 
of  three  days,  and  that  he  stand  committed  until 
the  fine  and  costs  are  ])aid.” 

d'he  whipi)inj.:;^  post  was  located  on  the  pub¬ 
lic  s(|nare  and  to  this  the  ])risoner  was  fastened 
while  the  sentence  of  the  court  was  carried  out. 
in  the  ])resence  of  the  onlookers. 

.\.\TC  R.\  L I  Z.ATK  )X  I  '.\  I  Mi  R. 

W'e  append  a  copy  of  the  first  naturalization 
])apers  issued  in  Shelby  county,  at  the  May,  1847. 
term  of  the  circuit  court.  Solomon  Stilgehauer 
was  the  name  of  the  alien  seeking  citizenship  : 

% 

"State  of  Illinois,  Shelby  County. 

"Solomon  Stilgehauer,  being  duly  sworn, 
de])oseth  and  saith.  that  it  is  his  intention,  bona 
fide,  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  L'nited  States  of 
.America,  and  to  renounce  forever  all  allegance 
and  fidelity  to  any  foreign  prince,  potentate,  or 
sovereignty  whatsoever,  and  ]:)articularly  to  the 


sovereignty  or  kingdom  of  llavaria,  in  Cermauy. 
of  which  he  was  formerly  a  subject. 

"S( )  ROM  ( )  X  ST  I  LCHC I  l.A  I '  \\ R. 
"Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me,  this  27th 
day  of  May.  1847. 

"WlLIJ.VAl  L.  RRKXTICK,  Clerk." 
".A])])lication  for  Citizenshi])  of  Solomon  Stilge¬ 
hauer,  an  alien. 

"(  )n  this  day  the  said  Solomon  vStilgehauer, 
by  his  attorney,  and  it  ap])earing  to  the  court, 
by  the  record,  exhibited  in  ])roof,  that  at  the 
.May  term  of  the  Shelby  county  circuit  court,  in 
the  state  of  Illinois,  for  the  year  1847,  the  said 
ap|)licant  had  declared  on  oath  his  intention  to 
become  a  citizen  of  the  L'nited  States  of  .\merica, 
in  ])ursuance  of  law,  and  the  court  being  satisfied 
from  the  evidence  of  Anthony  'I'lioruton  and 
William  Royse,  that  the  said  applicant  had  re¬ 
sided  within  the  l'nited  States  more  than  five 
years,  and  in  the  county  of  vShelhy.  in  the  state 
of  Illinois,  more  than  one  year  before  the  present 
term  of  this  court,  and  that  during  the  said  five 
years  he  has  behaved  as  a  man  of  good  moral 
character,  attached  to  the  principles  of  the  con¬ 
stitution  of  the  l'nited  States,  and  that  he  has 
been  well  disposed  to  the  good  order  and  happi¬ 
ness  of  the  same.  .And  the  said  ap])hcant  having 
declared  on  oath  in  o])en  court,  that  he  would 
sup])ort  the  constitution  of  tne  L'nited  States, 
and  he  willingly,  absolutely  and  entirely  re¬ 
nounced  and  abjured  all  allegiance  and  fidelity 
to  every  foreign  ])rince,  potentate,  state  and  sov¬ 
ereignty.  whatsoever,  and  ])articularly  to  the 
King  of  llavaria,  in  Cjermany. 

"It  is  therefore  ordered  by  the  court  that 
these  i)roceedings  be  entered  of  records,  and  that 
the  said  Solomon  Stilgehauer  is  entitled  to  and 
is  hereby  admitted  to  all  the  rights,  i)rivileges 
and  immunities  of  a  citizen  of  the  L'nited  States 
of  .America. 


54 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


“It  is  further  ordered  that  tlie  said  appli¬ 
cant  pay  tile  costs  hereof,  etc.” 

FIRST  DIXORCE. 

"I  Sennet  Robinson  vs.  Elizabeth  Robinson, 
label  for  Divorce. 

"It  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court 
that  the  parties  were  lawfully  married,  as  is  set 
forth  in  said  libel ;  and  that  the  said  l^lizabeth 
did  voluntarily  and  wilfully  absent  herself  from 
the  libellant  for  two  years  in  continuance;  and 
])roof  of  the  pendency  of  this  libel  bavins^  been 
made  accordino'  to  law.  It  is  ordered,  adjudii^ed. 
and  decreed,  that  the  banns  of  matrimony  here¬ 
tofore  subsisting-  between  the  said  jiarties,  be. 
and  they  are  hereby  dissolved — and  the  jirayer 
of  the  said  bill  be  granted  ;  and  that  the  said 
libellant  pay  the  costs  attending  the  jirosecution 
of  his  said  libel." 

EE(;iSEAT()RS  FROM  THIS  DISTRICT. 

\\T  CO])}-  the  names  of  the  legislators  from 

Shelby  county,  or  the  district  in  which  it  is  situ¬ 

ated.  since  its  organization,  in  1827: 

SEXAT(  )RS. 

William  Williamson . 1832 — ’35 

Peter  Warren . — ’49 

Hiram  Rountree . i‘^49 — 'SL 

Cabriel  R.  Jernigan . 1853 — '55 

Joel  S.  Post . 1  ....  1857 — ’59 

Richard  J.  ( )glesbv .  ’6t 

H.  M.  X'andeveer . 1863 — '65 

John  XI.  Woodson  . 1867 — '69 

Solomon  Lewis .  '71 

Charles  X’oris . 1871 — '7,^ 

d'homas  Prewer . 1875 — '77 


Erastus  X.  Rinehart . 1^79 — '83 

E.  15.  Stephenson . 1884 — '88 

Samuel  W.  Wright,  Jr . 1888 — ’92 

Isaac  15.  Craig . 1892 — ’96 

S.  C.  Pemberton  . 1896 — 


REP RESE XTATl  \  ES. 


Ceorge  H.  15eeler . 1832 — ’33 

Thomas  15.  Trower . 1834 — ’35 

John  S.  Turley . 1836 — '37 

William  E.  Thornton . *838 — ’39 

(  )wen  Prentice . 1840 — ’41 

Jonathan  ]>.  Howard . 1842 — ’43 

John  S.  Turley . >844 — ’45 

Edward  Evey .  ’49 

.\nthony  Thornton  .  ’51 

S.  W.  Moulton . 1853 — '57 

d'homas  P>rewer .  ’59 

ddiomas  X\'.  Harris .  ’61 

Reuben  Roessler .  '63 

William  Middlesworth .  ’65 

Charles  X'oris . 1867 — ’69 

John  Casey .  ’71 

Edward  Roessler . 

William  H.  McDonald .  ’73 

WilliamH.  lllakelay . 

Ilenson  Wood .  “ 

William  ('lillmore .  '75 


\\  ilham  Middlesworth 

William  Chew . 

('•ershom  Xlonahan  .  . 
Xathaniel  P.  Robinson 


ddiomas  J.  Fritts .  “ 

M'illiam  M.  .\braham .  '79 

James  E.  Ryan . .  .  .  .  “ 

llaitly  Scarlett . 

Alfred  C.  Campbell . i88c^'82 

('leorge  D.  Chafee .  " 

F.  M.  Richardson  . . 


DP 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


Cliarles  I,.  Roane . 1883 — '84 

'I'lionias  X.  ilenry . 

jolni  11.  1  laker . 

'riiomas  X.  Ilenry . 

John  11.  llaker . 

W  alter  C.  1  leaden . 

John  11.  llaker . 1887 — '88 

John  J.  Schneider . 

Jose])h  1*.  Condo . 

William  (1.  Cochran . i88(j — ’90 

John  J.  vSehneider . 

h^rank  Spitler . 

James  Laughlin . 1891 — ‘92 

I’hili])  W’iwi . 

Walter  C.  1  leaden  . 

I’hilip  Wiwi . 1893 — ’94 

Leverett  S.  llaldwin . 

Albert  Campbell  . 

Alex.  H.  .McTa|4gart . 1895 — '96 

Joseph  1*.  llarricklow . 

W.  11.  Wallace .  " 

Caleb  R.  Torrence . 1^9/ — 9^ 

Isaac  11.  Crai^ .  “ 

Joseph  R.  llarricklow .  “ 

Carl  S.  llnr^ett . 1899 — '00 

Charles  Lee .  “ 

Ceoro-e  R.  (jrayhill . . .  .  “ 

Carl  S.  llurg-ett . 1891 — '02 

Robt.  (j.  Hammond .  “ 

William  lleem .  “ 


C( ) LXT V  COM  M I SS I ( ) X K RS. 

John  Whitley,  Jr.,  Levi  Casey,  William 

Weger . 1827 

Levi  Casey,  Jesse  Rhodes,  James  Jordan.  .1828 
Levi  Casey,  Jesse  Rhodes,  Edward  Reed,,  1829 
Levi  Casey,  Ed  Reed,  llenjamin  Walden..  1830 
llushrod  W.  Henry,  ('leorge  Parks,  John 
llrally, — August . i<83^ 


11.  W.  Ilenry.  Ceorge  Park,  James  Hood- 

win —  December . <^3- 

Aaron  .McKenzie.  Lemuel  Dazey,  llarnet 

Hone  . 1834 

John  Storm.  James  h'reeman,  Daniel  Price... 1836 
John  Storm,  Daniel  Price.  '1'.  J.  Kellam  ..1837 
John  Storm,  Daniel  Dawdy,  John  Douthit.  .  1838 
John  Douthit,  1).  Dawdy,  T.  W.  .Short  ....  1840 
John  Douthit,  d'.  W.  Short.  Cddeon  Edward  1841 
T.  W.  Short,  C.  Edward.  Rolls  Calvert  ....  1842 

R.  Calvert.  C.  Parks.  E.  Hoo])er . 1843 

Ceorge  Parks,  John  Houchins,  11.  W.  Ilenry  1844 
Ceorge  Parks.  II.  \\  .  Ilenry,  'I'.  \\  .  Short.  .  1845 
T.  W  .  Short,  C.  Parks,  1).  W.  Dawdy  ....  1846 
T.  W  .  Short,  James  llrownlee,  John  Mor- 


ris(m . 1847 

John  Morri.son,  James  llrownlee,  Peter 

Parker . 1848 


In  1849,  and  after  the  ado])tion  of  the  con¬ 
stitution,  the  county  judges  ])erformed  the  duties 
before  i)erformed  by  the  county  commissioners. 

PRORATE  JLvSTlCES  OE  TlllC  PEACE. 

Jose])h  Oliver . 1829  to  1837 

William  Xicholls . '837  to  1339 

Edward  Evey . 1839  to  1849 

COCXTY  JUDCES. 

William  Williamson  ;  D.  M.  Robinson.  Rus¬ 
sell  Eletcher,  associates . 1849 

William  Williamson  ;  Russell  Fletcher,  John 

Casey,  associates . 1853 

William  Williamson;  John  Casey,  Joseph 

Leathers,  associates . 1854 

Peter  Fleming:  John  Casey,  John  R.  W'ar- 

ren,  associates . 1857 

Peter  Fleming . 1857  to  1873 


56 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


L  Rose . 

. ‘873  to 

1876 

W.  W.  Hess . 

. 1876  to 

1887 

T.  E.  Ames . 

. 1 887  to 

1896 

.  \\  .  H.  Ragan . 

. 1896  to 

1898 

'r.  H.  Righter . 

. .  1898  to 

A1  ASTERS 

L\  CHANCERY. 

loseph  ( )liver . 

.  to 

1847 

W.  S.  Prentice . 

. 1847  to 

1 841; 

Wm.  Rovse  . 

. 1841)  to 

1851 

Piurrel  Roberts .... 

. 1851  to 

•855 

1.  V.  Lee . 

. >855  to 

1865 

W.  R.  Reed . 

.  1865  to 

1874 

W.  W.  Hess . 

. 1874  to 

1878 

W.  A.  Cochran  .  .  .  . 

1884 

1.  William  Llovd  .  .  , 

. 1884  to 

1888 

W.  15.  Townsend  .  . 

. 1888  to 

i88(; 

W.  .A.  Trower . 

'893 

F.  .A.  Richardson  .  . 

. i8<>3  to 

CLERKS  OF  THE  COL’XTV  COCRT. 


Jose])li  Oliver  . 
lUirrel  Roberts 
W'm.  Lloyd  .  .  . 
James  Frazer  . 
Alfred  F.  Allen 
Israel  R.  Small 
Albert  Allen  . 


1827  to  1843 
1843  to  1868 
1 868  to  1877 
1877  to  1886 
1886  to  i8<;4 
i8ij4  to  i8<>8 
i8(>8  to  - 


CLERKS  OF  CIRCUIT  COURT. 


Joseph  ( )liver  .... 
William  S.  Prentice 
William  Royse  .  .  . 

1.  Lee . 

liurrel  Roberts  .  .  . 

I.  Lee . 

\\b  Cochran  .  .  . 
Thomas  Cravbill.  . 


. 1 828  to  1 846 

. 1 846  to  1 848 

. 1848.  but  retired 

1849,  to  fill  unexpired  term 

. 1851  to  1.853 

. 1853  to  1864 

. 1 864  to  1 880 

. 1 880  to  1 888 


Thomas  H.  Graham . 1888  to  lyoo 

Wm.  E.  McCormick . 1900  to  - 

SHERIFFS. 

William  Williamson . 1827  to  1833 

Jacob  L.  Fleming  . 1833  O  1836 

Peter  Fleming . 1^36  to  1850 

Pi.  b".  Frazer . 1850  to  1853 

.\.  F.  Douthit . 1853  to  1854 

Pi.  F.  Frazer . 1854  to  1855 

Jacob  Culter . 1855  to  1856 

Samuel  Herod  . 1856  to  1858 

Jacob  Culter . 1858  to  i860 

J.  J.  Shaw . i860,  resigned  in  1861 

William  A.  Trower . .  .  .  .  1861  to  1862 

.Marcus  Richardson . 1862  to  1864 

F.  15.  Thompson . 1864  to  1866 

J.  C.  Hu  lifer . 1866  to  1868 

J.  R.  Moore . 1868  to  1870 

Marshall  Howard . 1870  to  1876 

J.  H.  Silver . 1876  to  1880 

Lafayette  Higginbotham . 1880  to  1886 

Wm.  H.  Shaw .  1886  to  1890 

Daniel  Culvert  . 1890  to  1894 

Hercules  C.  Courtright . '894  to  1898 

Thomas  iMiner . 1898  to  1902 

CORONERS. 

Isaac  Martin . 1827  tt)  1837 

James  Davis . >837  to  1843 

James  Hamilton . 1843  to  1846 

David  Harris .  1846 

.Albert  Doyle,  ])art  of . 1846  to  1850 

J.  C.  Corley . 1850  to  1852 

W.  A.  Clements . 1852  to  1853 

W.  .A.  Trower . 1853  to  1855 

15.  Durkee  . >855  to  1866 

15.  T.  Kenningham . 1866  to  1868 

J.  A.  Ilubbard  ....  . . 1868  to  1870 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


W’m.  Sampson . 

. 1870  to 

1880 

David  R).  Campbell . 

1851 

to 

'853 

'I'lioinas  A.  1  laj^an  . 

. |8(J2 

to 

1 8(/) 

IC.  Rusk . 

'853 

to 

1856 

R.  L.  (laris . 

. 1 896 

to 

1900 

AI.  Aloore . 

1856 

to 

1858 

lames  1 1 .  I  lorn, .... 

. present  incumbent 

lohn  R.  E.den . 

1858 

to 

1861 . 

I.  R.  R.ovd . 

i8(ji 

to 

1862 

C(  )IA\TV 

TREASCRh'.RS. 

1862 

1863 

\\  illiam  (..  Ratterson,  ])ro  tern  .  .  .  . 

to 

Slielton  -Mlpliin  .... 

. 1827 

to 

1 829 

|.  R.  Cunningham . 

i8()3 

to 

1869 

1\  Rhodes  . 

. 1829 

to 

1832 

Al.  Ri.  d'hompson . 

i8()9 

to 

1873 

I  no.  Hamhleton  .  .  . 

. ...1832 

to 

1834 

L.  I>.  Stephenson . 

1 873 

to 

1880 

William  1  laden  .... 

. '834 

to 

1836 

W.  C.  Kellev . 

1880 

to 

1888 

|no.  ).  I ’age . 

. 1836 

to 

1838 

\\  .  1!.  Townsend . 

1888 

to 

1892 

'riiomas  Ileaden  .. 

1838 

W.  ( ).  W  allace . 

1892 

to 

1900 

)ohn  |.  Rage . 

1838 

J.  K.  1’.  ('.rider . 

1900 

to 

Riirrel  RoI)erts  .  .  .  . 

. ^  ■ 1839 

to 

1843 

lames  Cutler . 

. '843 

to 

1871 

CIRCCIT  JL'D(,ES. 

(leorge  W  .  Keeler 

. 1871 

to 

1875 

William  C.  Miller  . 

. 1875 

to 

1877 

Theojdiilus  Smith . 

1828 

to 

'833 

.Archibald  Shelton  . 

. 1877 

to 

1886 

'I'liomas  I'ord  (jiresiding  by  agree- 

Wallace  K.  Walker  . 

. 1886 

to 

1890 

ment.  with  Sidney  Freeze)  .  . 

1835 

A.  Al.  Craddock  .  .  . 

. 1890 

to 

1894 

Sidney  llreese . 

‘83b 

to 

1840 

Wallace  Jv  W  alker  . 

. 1894 

to 

1898 

Samuel  1 1 .  Treat . 

1841 

to 

1845 

J.  K.  I'lmtr . 

. 1898 

to 

Custavus  Koerner . 

^845 

to 

1847 

Samuel  H.  Treat . 

1847 

to 

1849 

COL’XTV 

SCRA'ICYORS. 

David  Davis . 

1849 

to 

1853 

William  Williamson 

. 1827 

to 

1847 

Charles  Emerson  . ;  .  .  .  . 

'853 

to 

1862 

K.  (t.  Shellenbarger 

. 1847 

to 

'853 

Charles  11.  Constable . 

1862 

to 

1863 

J.  •Rrownlee  . 

. '853 

to 

1857 

Charles  Emerson . 

1864 

to 

1867 

Klias  Smith . 

. 1857 

to 

1867 

A.  J.  Gallagher . 

1867 

to 

'873 

-Mr.  Roessler  .... 

. 1867 

to 

1871 

H.  Al.  A'andeveer . 

1873 

to 

1876 

Elias  Smith . 

. 1871 

to 

'875 

W.  R.  W  elch,  Charles  S.  Zane,  11. 

S.  Conover . 

. '875 

to 

1878 

Al.  X'andeveer,  (under  new 

lohn  R.  Rrisben  .  . 

. 1878 

to 

1888 

law) . 

1877 

to 

1879 

(j.  \\  .  Dickinson  .  .  . 

. 1888 

to 

W.  R.  Welch,  H.  Al.  X’andeveer. 

J.  J.  Rhillips . 

1879 

to 

1 880 

STATE  AXl)  COL'XTY  ATTORNEYS. 

(Judge  Gross  was  appointed  to  fill 

William  H.  Rrown, 

])ro  tern . 18^0  to 

1837 

vacancy  caused  by  death  of 

Josiah  Fisk . 

. '837 

to 

1840 

Judge  XX’elch.) 

F.  Forman,  pro  tern 

. 1840  to 

1845 

Judges  Creighton,  Shirley  and 

Wm.  H.  Russel  .  .  .  . 

. 1 845  ^0 

1846 

Foulke . 

1880 

to 

Harry  Lee . 

. I  846  to 

1851 

Judges  .Ames,  Farmer  and  Dwight 

to 

58 


N 


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4 


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V 


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i 


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'  ■  ‘  -4 


AI.HKKT  (  AKKI  TUKUS.  WILLIAM  O.  WALLACE. 


REMINISCENCES. 


BY  .ATTORNEY  GEORGE  B.  RHOADS. 


(IIAPTEH  VII. 


From  the  title  of  this  chapter  the  reader 
might  think  it  necessary  for  the  same  to  he  writ¬ 
ten  by  one  who  liad  lived  a  great  many  years 
amongst  the  scenes  which  he  attem])ts  to  por¬ 
tray,  and  whose  versatile  mind  could  wander  at 
will  along  the  corridors  of  time,  and  see  again 
the  vistas  of  the  past.  However,  this  is  not  es¬ 
sential,  as  one  who  has  been  privileged  to  listen 
to  "the  tales  of  other  days"  and  to  have  access 
to  records,  official  and  otherwise,  and  possesses 
a  bright  mind,  enabling  him  to  arrange  such 
Anecdotes  and  incidents  entertainingly,  is  com- 
IJCtent  to  treat  this  subject.  W'e  are  pleased  with 
the  collection  of  Reminiscences  furnished  us  by 
Mr.  Rhoads,  and  are  confident  the  readers  of 
this  volume  will  likewise  find  them  interesting. — 
The  Publishers. 

The  famous  criminal  trial  of  pioneer  times 
was  that  of  Robert  Sellars,  for  the  murder  of 
James  Rodman.  The  indictment  was  returned  in 
Mav,  1842,  and  trial  took  i)lace  at  once,  the  de¬ 
fendant  being  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  be 
hung  June  21,  1842.  E.  1).  Raker.  A.  T.  Rledsoe. 
and  .Anthony  Thornton  defended  :  J.  Lamborn. 
attorney  general,  prosecuted;  Samuel  II.  Treat 
was  the  presiding  judge,  .\fter  sentence,  the 
])risoner  asked  for  a  new  trial,  alleging  that  one 
of  the  jurors,  .Alfred  Howlett,  had  expressed  an 
ojfinion  against  him  l)efore  the  trial;  and  in  sup¬ 


port  of  his  motion  ])resented  to  the  court  the 
affidavits  of  himself.  Addison  Aloran,  Jacob 
Kellar.  and  John  1).  Rrewster.  while  the  state 
filed  fourteen  afifidavits  sui^jorting  the  character 
of  Howlett.  and  two  charging  Sellars  with  per¬ 
jury  in  his  own  affidavit.  Judge  Treat  overruled 
the  motion,  and  Sellars  a])|)ealed.  The  Supreme 
yourt  reversed  the  case  and  ordered  a  new  trial. 

Ry  the  time  the  case  came  back  to  the  cir¬ 
cuit  court,  the  legislature  had  changed  the  crimi¬ 
nal  code,  and  the  original  murder  indictment  was 
nolled  ;  another,  charging  manslaughter  under 
the  new  law,  being  returned.  J.  A.  AlcDougall 
was  now  attorney  general.  Sellars  plead  guilty 
and  took  a  sentence  to  the  .Alton  penitentiary 
for  eight  years.  Lamborn.  former  prosecutor, 
and  J.  I’utterfield  now  took  up  the  case  for  Sel¬ 
lars.  and  (1844)  brought  habeas  corpus  in  the 
su[)reme  court,  arguing  that  a  sentence  under  a 
law  ])assed  after  the  commission  of  the  crime  was 
a  nullity.  Judge  Treat,  then  a  member  of  that 
tribunal,  refused  to  take  part  in  the  consideration 
of  the  case.  The  state  contended  that  the  plea 
of  guilty  had  been  voluntarily  made,  and  should 
stand.  The  prisoner's  counsel  created  a  sensa¬ 
tion  by  citing  Martial  L.  XI,  9  Hpig.  59.  as  the 
law  governing  the  case,  as  follows ; 

"Mv  barber,  with  his  razor  on  my  throat, 

.Asks  me  for  wealth,  for  freedom,  and  what  not ; 
I  promise  all  while  danger  ties  my  hands. 

For  not  the  barber,  l)ut  the  rogue  demands; 

Rut  when  fierce  razor  to  safe  sheath  withdrew. 

I'd  spoil  his  dancing  and  his  fiddling  too." 

The  court  held  the  authority  not  a])plic- 


59 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


able  and  ordered  the  prisoner  hack  to  Alton  to 
serve  ont  liis  term  ;  but  tlie  footnote  to  the  case 
in  tlie  rei)or.ts  still  j^ravely  attests  the  classical 
knowledge  of  defendant's  counsel,  and  publishes 
the  (jiu)tation  as  ])art  of  the  incidents  of  the  case. 

*  ^  Jj: 

'I'he  first  circuit  court  held  in  vShelby  county 
convened  Sept.  15.  1828.  under  Theoi)hilus  W. 
Smith,  judge  ])residing.  Josej)!!  (diver  was  cir¬ 
cuit  clerk,  and  he  took  the  oath  of  office  in  h'ay- 
ette  county.  His  bond  was  $2,000.  an  enormous 
sum  in  those  days;  the  sureties  were  W'm.  Hall, 
Sr..  Shelton  Allphin.  and  W  illiam  Williamson. 
The  last  named  gentleman  was  sheriff. 

The  first  case.  Jame.>  IIooi)er  and  Rufus 
Inaman  vs.  J{hjah  Jones,  an  action  on  the  case, 
was  dismissed  by  the  ])arties  without  trial.  'I'he 
third  case  brought  was  a  divorce  suit,  and  the 
whole  term  had  no  suit  involving  more  than  $60. 

.\s  yet  the  county  had  no  seal,  and  the 
clerk  authenticated  the  process  by  sealing  with 
red  wax.  over  which  he  stuck  an  oblong  piece 
of  i)ai)er.  pressing  through  the  paper,  into  the 
wax.  a  square  of  grill  wt)rk.  Judge  Moulton  yet 
has  in  his  collection  a  similar  sealing  tool.  Xo 
printed  forms  were  in  use.  'I'he  clerk  wrote 
everything,  and  the  cpiaint  lettering  and  varied 
paper  used  is  worth  pulling  down  the  old  dusty 
file  boxes  to  see.  .Mong  in  '32  .some  i)rinted 
subpoenas  were  bought,  and  from  thence  on. 
printed  forms  gradually  came  into  use.  Later 
the  legislature  ])a.ssed  a  law  ])ermitting  a  seal  to 
be  made  by  using  the  word  “seal."  surrounded  by 
a  scrawl,  and  for  a  number  of  years  the  circuit 
clerk  sealed  all  his  documents  in  that  manner. 
It  is  not  until  along  in  the  forties  that  the  ])resent 
seal  ai)pears.  and  file  covers  apjjear  at  a  still  later 
date. 

'I'he  first  case  that  the  files  indicate  to  have 
been  bitterly  fought  was  a  personal  injury  suit 


brought  in  1831.  'I'he  bundle  of  papers  is  fat; 
many  a  modern  case  cannot  ecjual  it.  'I'he  i)lain- 
tiff  claimed  the  huge  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars 
damages!  In  this  case  the  deposition  of  a  mid¬ 
wife  living  in  the  southern  i)art  of  Illinois  was 
taken  by  written  interrogatories.  So  far  as 
known,  this  was  the  first  dedimus  ever. issued  in 
the  county. 

Xot  a  single  ])ai)er  filed  by  tliose  early  law¬ 
yers  can  be  found  until  in  '32.  'I'hen  a  few  ap- 
])ear  here  and  there,  and  the  signature  is  sim])ly 
the  last  name  with  no  initials.  It  is  not  until 
in  1840  that  the  records  show  the  names  of 
known  attorneys,  but  from  that  year  on  the 
Linders,  h'icklins.  'riiornton.  Moulton.  (Gregory, 
b'ield.  and  other  familiar  names  api)ear  rapidly, 
and  shortly  thereafter  the  full  name  of  the  attor¬ 
ney  is  used. 

The  lot  upon  which  the  L'nitarian  church  now 
stands  was  at  one  time  the  i)ro])erty  of  James  1>. 
Henry.  ( )ne  day  Hen.  'I'hornton  and  Henry 
struck  up  a  trade,  whereby  the  (General  bought 
the  lot  lor  $50,  cash  down,  and  took  Henry's 
title  deeds,  that  the  new  deed  conveying  the  prop¬ 
erty  to  him  might  be  drawn.  Without  waiting  for 
tlie  delivery  of  the  pajiers,  however,  the  General 
took  jiossession  of  the  premises  and  erected  some 
improvements  there  on.  Meanwhile,  the  making 
of  the  deed  was  in  some  manner  delayed,  until 
one  day,  Henry  died  rather  suddenly  with  no 
deed  yet  signed.  His  heirs  were  minors  and 
could  make  no  conveyance. 

'Hie  General  never  let  a  little  situation  like 
that  discourage  him,  so  he  hired  A.  R.  Field. 
Daniel  Gregory,  and  H.  Eddy,  lawyers,  and  went 
into  court  before  Judge  breeze,  asking  that  the 
court  make  him  a  deed.  Levi  Davis  was  guar¬ 
dian,  ad  litem,  for  the  Henry  children,  and  he. 
with  W.  \*aughaiT,  the  administrator  of  the  es- 


60 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


tate,  and  Sophia  Henry,  the  widow,  appeared 
i)efore  his  honor  and  admitted  Thornton  was  en¬ 
titled  to  his  deed.  To  the  utter  astonishment 
of  all  Judge  llreeze  decided  (Oct.  i,  ’37)  that  the 
court  had  no  power  to  make  such  an  order,  and 
dismissed  the  proceedings  at  the  (jcneral’s  costs. 

The  General  was  by  this  time  thoroughly 
aroused,  and  promptly  appealed  the  case  to  the 
supreme  court,  and  in  June,  1840,  that  court 
granted  Thornton  his  deed.  (  )ne  of  the  supreme 
court  justices  (Smith)  was  so  doubtful  of  the  de¬ 
cision  that  he  filed  a  (lualifying  o])inion. 

This  was  the  first  case  ever  api)ealed  from 
the  Shelby  county  circuit  court. 

V  ^  V  V 

The  old  road  up  llrewster's  hill,  into  Shelby- 
ville,  differed  much  from  the  well-graded,  com¬ 
fortably-inclined  tboroughfare  of  today.  'Phe 
bridge,  in  early  days,  crossed  a  hundred  yards 
north  of  the  present  one.  The  road  wound  along 
the  river  bank  soutb,  to  near  the  ford.  There 
it  turned  up  the  ravine  running  northwest  past 
what  is  now  (»eo.  R.  (jraybill's  residence,  com¬ 
ing  to  the  to])  of  the  hill  near  where  John  King 
now  lives,  whence  it  came  down  W  ater  street 
to  the  public  square.  In  the  S(|uare  the  old  court 
house  stood  in  the  center  of  Main  street,  and 
Thornton’s  store  was  east, 'almost  where  the  last 
brick  building  on  the  south  side  of  Main  now 
stands.  North,  where  is  now  a  livery  stable,  and 
from  thence  to  Yost  tY  Andes’  corner,  were  nu¬ 
merous  wooden  buildings.  In  one  of  these  Judge 
Moulton  had  an  office. 

Main  street,  in  those  days,  was  full  of 
stum])s.  and  timber  stood  from  I’roadway  west, 
to  the  hill  beyond  tbe  hollow  south  of  the  F.  M. 
r>.  A.  mill.  Eastward,  where  the  cut  has  been 
made  to  straighten  the  ap])roach  to  the  ])resent 
bridge,  the  hill  extended  south  some  150 
feet,  and  the  embankment  on  this  side  rose  much 


higher  than  the  present  street  level.  The  road 
was  bad.  even  for  those  days,  and  tradition  tells 
of  many  an  e.xciting  accident  that  took  place  in 
the  rugged  roadbed.  Through  the  river  bottom 
ran  a  pile  slough  bridge,  raised  above  the  mud, 
and  at  times  covered  with  water.  Generallv  it 
was  in  bad  repair,  and  more  than  one  driver 
risked  his  life  and  maimed  his  horses  in  passing 
over  it. 

The  first  bridge  worthy  of  the  name  was 
a  covered  wooden  structure.  It  stood  for  vears. 
being  still  in  use  during  the  Civil  war.  Shelby 
county,  in  that  exciting  time,  was  honeycombed 
with  organizations  in  sympathy  with  the  south, 
and  lodges  of  the  Knights  of  the  (Ejlden  Circle 
abounded.  .A  favorite  meeting  place  of  some  of 
the  hot-heads  was  this  old  covered  bridge,  and 
there,  on  many  a  night,  guarded  bv  sentinels, 
who  ])revented  intrusion  by  outsiders,  wild  plans 
were  discussed.  From  these  meetings  came  the 
"raid"  on  Shelbyville,  made  one  day  in  war 
times,  when  some  of  the  more  enthusiastic  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Circle  thought  they  would  "clean  out 
the  black  abolitionists."  Judge  Thornton,  whose 
inlluence  was  unbounded.  (|uenched  the  fire  by 
meeting  the  would-be  rioters  at  the  top  of  llrew- 
ster’s  hill,  telling  them,  in  language  at  once 
forceful  and  convincing,  that  they  were  a  "set  of 
unmitigated  fools,"  and  sent  them  home  in  dis¬ 
grace. 

Then  the  south  side  of  Main  street  ran  into 
the  hollow,  and  was  much  lower  than  the  north 
side.  Along  where  the  llolinger  stores  are  now, 
the  sidewalk  was  much  higher  than  the  oi)])osite 
walk,  and  lifted  from  the  ground,  ( )n  the  south 
side  the  Union,  started  in  1863,  had  its  office 
where  the  Chafee  block  now  is,  and  more  than 
once  the  rowdies  gathered  under  the  north  walk, 
swearing  vengeance  upon  the  editor  and  the 
])ai)er,  and  threatening  divers  fearful  things  if 


6  I 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


certain  editorials  were  continued.  ISnt  the  news- 
l)aper  men  came  and  went,  witli  no  interruption 
from  the  crowd  overlooking  their  entrance.  'I'he 
unevenness  of  the  road  continued  until  a  num- 
her  of  years  into  the  60s.  Indeed.  Ilrewster's 
hill  was  not  put  into  its  present  shape  until  in 
the  (jo's,  though  by  '83  it  was  well  graded.  Some 
of  the  sharpest  law  suits  in  the  ct)nnty‘s  history 
took  place  between  the  townshij)  and  county  au¬ 
thorities  before  the  road  was  imi)roved.  'I'he  old 
ravine  has  been  closed  for  twenty  years  now ; 
hut  many  a  citizen  of  Shelbyville  can  yet  point 
out  the  way,  rough  aiul  ronndahout.  by  which 
he  first  entered  the  town. 

S/t  SjC  ijS 

Shelhyville's  first  mayor,  under  its  special 
charter,  was  W’.  .\.  'I'rower,  who  defeated  I).  \\’. 
.Marks  in  a  spirited  contest.  Prior  to  that  time 

the  town  had  been  organized  as  a  village,  with 

a  president  and  hoard  of  trustees.  sjiecial 
charter,  drawn  by  the  local  bar  and  lobbied 

through  the  legislature,  organized  the  city  with 
a  mayor  and  four  aldermen,  one  from  each  w'ard. 
'file  mayor  served  for  four  years,  and  had  the 
jiowers  of  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Each  spring 
the  street  commissiemer  was  elected,  and  the  li¬ 
cense  (|uestion  submitted  to  a  vote.  When 
saloons  were  voted  out  the  "jug  law"  governed. 

\\  hen  .Mr.  Trower  took  office,  the  city's 
financial  condition  would  have  i)nzzled  an  expert. 
Whom  the  city  owed,  and  how  nmch  to  each,  and 
still  more  imiiortant,  how  it  was  to  be  paid,  were 
(jnestions  hopelessly  mi.xed.  The  council  made 
the  new  mayor  financial  agent,  fie  collected 
moneys  and  ])aid  bills  as  best  he  could.  ( )ne 
of  the  first  i)roblems  struck  was  the  town  clock, 
now  on  the  school  house.  'I'he  city  had  ])ur- 
chased  it  of  "I’at"  IMitchell,  for  $650,  on  credit, 
giving  a  note  drawing  10  ])er  cent,  interest. 
.Along  in  his  first  year  as  mayor,  four  saloon 


keepers  were  arrested  and  brought  before  Mr. 
'I'row  er  charged  with  illegal  licpun’  selling.  'I'rial 
took  i)lace  in  the  llaydon  block,  fiis  honor  fined 
three  of  them  $250  apiece,  and  the  fourth  man 
$150— a  total  of  fjipoo  in  one  day.  Strange  to 
.sa\  the  defendants  did  not  apjieal,  but  paid  in 
the  money  immediately.  With  this  unexpected 
lift  the  town  clock  note  was  jiaid,  having  stoird 
less  than  a  year. 

Incidentally  it  should  be  added  that  .Mitchell 
had  liought  the  clock  on  a  year's  time  from 
Canadian  j)arties,  and  he  received  his  money 
from  the  city  before  the  year  was  np.  When  the 
bill  became  due  "Pat"  disputed  it,  alleging  that 
the  clock  did  not  come  up  to  contract.  .A 
lively  lawsuit  followed,  in  which  the  wholesalers 
worsted  "Pat."  and  he  paid  for  the  clock. 

sit  :|c 

'I'he  Democratic  conventions  held  in  vShel- 
byville  have  been  famous,  not  only  by  reason  of 
the  bitter  and  heated  contests  for  the  nomina¬ 
tion,  but  also  from  the  fierce  campaigns  follow¬ 
ing  them.  Incidentally  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  the  nominee  has  always  been  defeated. 

'I'he  famous  one  of  them  all  was  held  in  the 
oi)era  hall,  away  back  in  1878.  'I'lie  county  was 
then  in  the  15th  district,  comjiosed  of  Edgar, 
Clark,  Cumberland,  Shelby,  .Moultrie,  Effingham, 
Lawrence.  Jas])er,  and  Crawford.  Creenback- 
ism  was  then  at  its  flood  tide,  and  Shelby  coun¬ 
ty  and  the  15th  district  were  badly  tinctured  with 
it.  John  R.  Eden,  retiring  member  and  after¬ 
wards  candidate  for  governor,  and  a  ])olitician 
named  Piisho]),  each  sought  the  nomination. 
Shelby  county  had  a  contesting  delegation,  and 
in  the  organization  of  the  committee  on  creden¬ 
tials  one  member,  counted  on  as  sure  for  Eden, 
voted  with  the  Hisho])  forces.  Conseciuently  the 
committee  tied,  and  the  matter  ended  in  the 
seating  of  one  half  of  each  delegation.  .A  dead- 


62 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


lock  ensued  in  the  convention.  All  day  long, 
Shelby  county,  when  factional  feeling  had  reach¬ 
ed  the  fever  point,  voted  obstinately  "Nine  for 
Ihsho])  and  nine  for  Eden."  So  often  was  that 
])hrase  repeated  that  to  this  day  one  sometimes 
hears  its  sing-song  sound. 

Xight  came  on  and  still  the  battle  raged 
with  no  change.  Eventually,  by  some  sudden 
impulse  always  unexplained,  an  unknown  man, 
named  Disches,  was  nominated.  Though  late 
at  night,  the  convention  appointed  a  committee 
to  notify  the  nominee  and  invite  him  to  address 
the  delegates.  Just  what  ha])])ened  will  never  be 
known.  The  story  which  raged  all  through  the 
district,  and  which  yet  lingers  in  the  meiiK^ries 
of  old  time  cami)aigners,  is  that  Disches.  who 
was  not  a  teetotaler  by  any  means,  was  found 
by  the  committee,  aslee])  in  a  wheel  barrow  in 
the  public  road  near  where  the  Xew  Neal  now 
stands,  and  in  a  condition  that  would  follow 
liberal  potations.  Waking  him  u]).  the  commit¬ 
tee  informed  him  of  their  mission,  and  recpiested 
him  to  go  with  them  to  the  hall.  I’dinking  at 
the  spokesman  for  a  moment,  the  nominee  re- 
])lied,  "This  beats  h — 1." 

That  remark  rang  through  the  district  con¬ 
tinuously  during  the  campaign.  In  Shelby  coun¬ 
ty  the  factional  fight  still  raged,  and  .\lbert  1’. 
Eorsythe,  the  Greenback  candidiate,  (the  Repub¬ 
licans  had  no  nominee.)  carried  much  of  the 
local  Eden  strength.  Every  where  Disches  was 
greeted  with  the  cry,  “This  beats  h — 1 and 
while  it  probably  did  nothing  of  the  kind,  it  did 
beat  Disches. 

The  next  convention  here  met  October  i, 
1895,  in  the  circuit  court  room.  In  the  land¬ 
slide  of  ’94  a  re])ublican  had  been  elected  from 
the  present  (18th)  congressional  district,  defeat¬ 
ing  Ed.  Lane,  who  had  held  office  for  a  number 
of  terms;  but  before  taking  his  seat,  the  con¬ 


gressman-elect  died,  and  Gov.  Altgeld  called  a 
s])ecial  election.  Ed.  Lane,  John  W.  Vantis,  and 
Col.  Albert,  were  the  contestants  for  the  nomi¬ 
nation.  The  first  ballot  showed  a  deadlock,  and 
all  day  long,  till  late  at  night,  the  roll  calls  went 
on.  At  one  time  each  man  came  successively 
within  one  vote  of  the  nomination.  On  the  324th 
ballot,  the  Albert  men  went  over  to  Lane,  decid¬ 
ing  the  contest.  The  cam])aign  never  exhibited 
any  warmth,  and  in  November  the  re])ubhcan.s 
carried  every  county  in  the  district.  laven  v8hel- 
by  went  republican,  the  first  time  in  its  history; 
and  if  the  signs  round  the  corners  are  to  be  re¬ 
lied  on,  that  will  be  the  last  time  it  deserts  the 
Democratic  column. 

j):  jjc 

William  Middlesworth.  just  jirior  to  the 
war.  dealt  heavily  in  fine  horses  and.  for  awhile, 
had  among  his  hands  one  Columbus  Nutterfield. 
hhir  some  time  before  1857,  IVfiddlesworth,  every 
once  in  awhile,  lost  a  horse  or  two  without  being 
able  to  discover  the  thief  or  regain  his  proiierty. 
Einallv  he  put  a  high  fence  round  his  barn  and 
turned  two  bull-dogs  into  the  lot.  A])parently 
this  put  a  sto])  to  the  thieving. 

One  snowy  night,  March  27.  1857.  Middles¬ 
worth  heard  a  noise  at  the  barn  and.  in  com- 
panv  with  his  hands,  went  out  to  investigate  the 
matter.  Two  men  were  discovered  leading  away 
a  couple  of  horses.  It  was  bright  moonlight  and 
as  soon  as  the  marauders  .saw  the  new  comers, 
thev  ran.  ( 'ne  escajied.  mounting  cjver  the 
fence  l)y  means  of  a  jiile  of  lumber  laid  near  it. 
but  the  other,  Nutterfield,  was  fired  at  as  he 
bounded  over,  and  wounded  in  the  neck.  Ide 
ran  to  the  railroad  and  followed  it  to  Robinson 
creek,  where  his  wound  was  dressed ;  from 
thence  he  disa];)]ieared. 

In  the  winter  of  '59-’6o,  some  one  visiting 
in  Siiringfield  saw  Nutterfield's  (licture  ex])osed 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


ill  a  ])li()to,i^ra])lK‘r's  sij^n  case,  and  liy  means  of 
tins  clew  he  was  apprehended  and  hronj^^ht  back 
to  Shelbyville.  Here,  after  a  time,  in  order  to 
extort  a  contession,  a  j;ronp  of  men  took  him 
outside  of  town  one  eveniiii’;,  and  made  all  prep¬ 
arations  to  han^  him  ;  dnj;  a  ^^j-ave  in  his  jires- 
ence  and  ordered  him  to  make  ready  for  death, 
liis  fears  overcame  him,  and  he  confessed,  im- 
plicatiiif^  one  hVederick  llacon,  of  the  western 
part  of  Illinois,  as  his  accomplice,  and  locatinj^ 
most  of  the  stolen  horses  at  Peoria,  from  whence, 
in  due  time,  they  were  recovered. 

Paeon  was  arrested,  and  in  April,  i80o,  both 
he  and  Xutterfield  were  indicted.  Paeon  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  !:(etting  a  change  of  venue  to  Macon 
county,  and  Xuttertield's  case  was  continued. 
Petween  terms  the  trial  in  Macon  county  took 
place.  Xutterfield,  when  taken  nj)  from  here 
as  a  witness,  absolutely  refused  to  testify  against 
his  confederate,  and  Paeon  went  free. 

.\fter  Xutterfield  had  been  brought  back 
to  this  county,  the  indignation  over  the  escajie  of 
Paeon  grew  until  one  evening,  in  the  fall  of  ’6o, 
a  mob  formed  and,  proceeding  to  the  jail,  in  the 
absence  of  the  turnkey  secured  the  keys  and  took 
Xutterfield  from  his  cell — but  only  after  a  fearful 
struggle — and  going  to  the  bluff  east  of  the  C. 
(X  P.  1.  round  house,  hung  him,  without  cere¬ 
mony,  to  an  oak  tree  there  standing. 

d'he  tree  remained  for  years,  and  has  been 
cut  down  recently.  Its  location  is  yet  i)ointed 
out  to  the  younger  generation,  as  the  site  (h' 
Shelby  county's  only  lynching. 

Cholera  struck  Shelbyville  in  1855,  the  year 
before  the  railroad  came,  and  it  nearly  depopu¬ 
lated  the  town.  Those  who  conld,  left  ;  and  the 
ones  remaining  were  not  enough  to  nurse  the 
sick  or  bury  the  dead.  ( )ne  of  the  martyrs  was 
Pev.  J.  M.  Grout,  the  pastor  of.the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  stayed  with  his  congregation  and  per¬ 


formed  the  funeral  rites  over  the  dead,  until, 
while  en  route  to  the  cemetery  at  the  funeral  of 
Mrs.  Xancy  Smith,  the  mother  of  .Mesdames  .\. 
'I'-hornton  and  (xeo.  1).  C'hafee.  the  malady  seized 
him  and  he  died  in  a  nearby  house.  Jlis  burial 
])lace  is  unknowji,  for  no  one  remained  to  record 
the  location  of  the  graves. 

It  was  this  e])idemic  that  produced  Capt. 
Stam])s.  Py  some  means,  the  Captain,  who 
owed  his  title  to  the  Mexican  war,  escaped  the 
plague,  and  devoted  himself  to  caring  for  the 
sick  and  burying  the  dead,  lie  made  his  rounds 
of  mercy  da}  and  night,  kindly  and  cheerily, 
until  he  won  the  lasting  affection  of  onr  people. 
I'rom  that  time  on  Capt.  Stamps  had  the  free¬ 
dom  of  the  town,  lie  loved  his  cn])s  and  at 
times  became  very  hai)py  over  them  ;  but  never, 
.save  once,  regardless  of  his  jollifyings,  was  he 
arrested.  'I'he  i)olice  many  times  cared  for  him 
that  he  might  not  suffer  from  exi)osnre,  and  he 
never  was  anything  but  good  natured.  Once, 
however,  he  fell  afoul  of  the  law.  .\  strange 
policeman,  in  the  6o’s.  arrested  him  on  the  charge 
of  drunkenness.  The  justice  ])romptly  dismissed 
the  case  and  the  ])oliceman  lost  his  job.  Put 
the  Ca])tain  was  not  satisfied.  He  had  been 
charged  with  drunkenness  and  wanted  a  trial. 
He  must  be  vindicated  to  be  ])acified. 

Finally,  the  constable  solemnly  impaneled 
a  jury  and  witnesses  were  called  and  sworn,  all 
of  whom  testified  that  on  the  day  in  (piestion, 
they  had  not  seen  the  Captain  drunk.  They  did 
not,  in  fact,  say  whether  they  had  seen  him  at 
all  or  not,  that  day,  and  strange  to  say  the  prose¬ 
cution  did  not  press  the  question.  .After  a  few 
moments’  deliberation  the  jury  returned  a  ver¬ 
dict  (jf  not  guilty.  .And  it  is  said  the  Captain 
celebrated  right  royally. 

To  the  day  of  his  death  the  Captain  was  a 
familiar  figure  on  our  streets.  The  younger  folk 


64 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


still  remember  him,  with  his  convivial  ways  and 
the  universal  good  will  in  which  he  was  held.  His 
death,  but  a  comparatively  recent  event,  was  tbe 
occasion  for  a  monster  funeral,  for  which  the 
stores  and  the  court  house  all  closed,  and  busi¬ 
ness  was  suspended.  His  monument,  to  be  seen 
bv  the  passer-by  in  the  city  cemetery,  was  erected 
by  public  subscription,  and  his  memory  is  uni¬ 
versally  revered. 

♦  jjt  if. 

The  only  legal  hanging  in  Shelby  county 
was  the  execution  of  Joseph  Myers,  July  29,  1870. 
for  the  murder  of  I’assibo  Calhoun. 

Calhoun  lived  near  Heck's  creek,  pn)tecting 
the  lands  of  the  Illinois  Central  and  (len.  Thorn¬ 
ton  from  timber  thieves.  His  activity  and  vigil¬ 
ance  brought  upon  him  the  hatred  of  some  of 
his  neighbors,  and  in  March,  1868,  he  received 
letters  warning  him  to  leave  the  country  at  once, 
otherwise  he  would  be  shot.  A  few  days  later, 
meeting  I’hillii)  Grass,  an  old  man  aged  75,  in 
the  road,  Calhoun  accused  him  of  sending  the 
letters,  and  in  the  ensuing  cpiarrel  Calhoun  shot 
Grass,  indicting  a  desh  wound  in  the  arm. 

Will.  Grass,  a  .son  of  the  old  man,  and 

f 

Joseph  Myers,  a  son-in-law,  together  with  Sam¬ 
uel  Moore,  Hubbard  Holder,  Janies  Hunch, 
W  esley  Hland,  Warren  Hland,  John  Hrowii,  and 
others  unknown,  to  the  total  number  of  a  dozen, 
the  night  of  Ajiril,  1  1,  1868,  set  out  for  Calhoun's 
house  where  they  dred  his  barn,  hoping  to  draw 
him  outside  and  shoot  him  by  the  light  of  the 
burning  building.  Hut  a  rain  extinguished  the 
dames  before  they  had  made  much  headway,  and 
the  crowd  left.  The  morning  of  April  12,  they 
returned,  and,  after  again  setting  dre  to  the  barn, 
sent  a  son  of  John  Hunch  to  the  house  to  tell 
Calhoun  of  the  dre.  Calhoun,  thus  aroused, 
came  out  to  save  his  jiroperty.  The  mob,  hidden 
behind  neighboring  stumps  and  trees,  dred  uiion 


him  as  he  came  into  the  open  and  he  fell,  with 
the  cry:  "You  have  shot  me  dead,"  accompan¬ 
ied  by  a  feartul  curse  upon  his  murderers.  Two 
bullets  lodged  in  the  abdomen,  killing  him  al¬ 
most  instantly. 

The  murderers  escaped,  and  for  nearly  two 
years  no  clew  to  the  criminals  was  found.  Grad¬ 
ually  one  circumstance  after  another  came  to 
light,  until,  in  1869,  Joseph  Myers  and  I’hillip 
Grass  were  arrested,  and  the  county  offered  a  re¬ 
ward  of  $500  for  the  capture  of  Hubbard,  W  il- 
liam  Grass,  and  Samuel  Moore.  Grass  and  Hol¬ 
der  were  found  in  [Missouri  and  Moore  gave 
himself  up,  promising  to  turn  state's  evidence  if 
lie  would  be  released.  This  agreement  was 
made,  and  the  trial  took  place  before  Judge  (lal- 
lagher,  at  the  spring  term  of  court  in  1870.  The 
jurors  who  tried  the  case  were  Win.  11.  Doyle, 
John  H.  Huffinan,  Janies  Salyers,  Amos  Shaw, 
Salem  Lantz.  Thomas  Hrimer,  John  H.  Shade, 
John  b'.  Shanks,  W  ade  Manning,  Xerr  [Middles- 
worth,  David  Yost,  and  Chas.  L.  Herron. 
Twenty-eight  witnesses  had  been  put  under  bond 
of  Sioo  each  to  appear  and  testify. 

Moulton,  Chafee,  and  a  lawyer  named 
Thomjison.  prosecuted  :  Thornton.  Eden.  A.  T. 
Hall,  and  Geo.  R.  Wendling.  defended. 

The  trial  commenced  June  22.  1870.  and 
lasted  until  the  following  Monday.  The  jury 
were  out  all  night,  and  about  10  o'clock  Tues¬ 
day  morning  returned  a  verdict  sentencing 
[\lvers  and  Holder  to  be  hung,  and  sending 
I’hillip  (mass  to  the  penitentiary  for  life,  and 
W  illiam  Grass  for  20  years. 

Xew  trial  being  denied,  the  Grasses  were 
taken  to  Joliet,  and  the  date  for  execution  fixed 
for  July  29th.  Meanwhile,  strenuous  efforts 
were  put  forth  to  persuade  Gov.  Palmer  to  com¬ 
mute  both  sentences  to  life  imprisonment.  .A.11 
this  time  Rev.  Steadman,  pastor  of  the  Haptist 


65 


HISTORIC  SKHTCH. 


clmrcli,  liatl  rcj^ularly  visitc-d  tlic  condcMiined 
men  in  their  eell.  and  sneeeeded  in  ”etlin_i>‘  a  eon- 
fession  from  eaeh.  Myers  told  a  straij^iitforw ard 
tale,  sayiii”'  that  he  had  a  rifle  and  the  others 
shot.^ims,  save  Holder,  w  ho  had  a  revolver,  and 
that  he,  Myers,  .shonld  he  lunys^,  as  he  fired  the 
fatal  shot.  Holder's  confession  was  decidedh 
evasive  and  nnsatisfaetory,  and  the  effect  of  them 
both  was  to  convince  the  imhlic  more  strongly 
than  ever  that  Holder  was  the  ringleader  of  the 
mol),  and  the  i^niltiest  wretch  of  them  all.  Ten 
days  before  the  execution,  Myers,  under  a  strong 
guard,  was  taken  to  the  river  and  baptized  by 
Rev.  Steadman.  Hater,  on  the  Tuesday  before 
the  hanging  of  Myers,  Holder  likewise  was  bap¬ 
tized,  an  audience  of  2,500  witnessing  the  cere¬ 
mony. 

Strong  efforts  were  still  being  put  forth  to 
save  the  men.  and  on  the  night  before  the  hang¬ 
ing  a  telegram  came  from  (lov.  Rainier  commut¬ 
ing  Holder’s  sentence  to  life  imprisonment.  Hate 
that  night  the  men,  who  occupied  the  same  cell, 
were  roused,  told  of  their  respective  fates,  and 
1 1  older  taken  away  at  once  before  the  town  knew 
of  it.  W  ith  the  morning  came  a  great  storm  of 
public  wrath.  'J'he  chief  offender  had  escaped, 
and  the  crowd  vowed  that  if  Holder  was  not 
hung,  Myers  should  not  be.  It  was  a  critical 
moment,  d'he  town  was  packed  and  the  crowd 
included  many  women  and  children.  A  huge 
shed,  erected  in  front  of  the  jail,  then  as  now  on 
W’ashington  street,  for  the  execution,  could 
easily  be  destroyed  :  nor  was  it  at  all  probable 
that  a  rescue  could  be  prevented.  Myers  was 
told  of  the  rising  storm,  and  going  to  the  jail 
window  with  Dr.  Buck,  he  addressed  the  crowd 
as  follows  : 

“Brothers  and  Sisters  : — 1  ho])e  by  the  grace 
of  God  to  be  able  to  talk  to  you  a  little.  I  have 
to  leave  you  all,  but  I  feel  I  am  prepared  to  go 


on  the  way  to  my  new  home.  1  go  to  a  better 
world  than  this.  As  regtirds  the  trial,  a  great 
deal  of  false  evidence  was  given,  but  some  of  it 
w.'is  the  same  as  the  confession  1  made,  which 
was  all  true.  1  forgive  ail  the  jury.  Ghrist 
dreaded  death,  and  so  do  1.  1  was  raised  in  the 

back  woods  and  never  liad  a  cliance  of  learning 
much  ;  never  went  to  day-school  or  Sunda_\ 
school.  1  had  a  Christian  mother.  I  had  some 
relations  who  died,  and  several  of  them  joined 
the  church  of  Christ  as  they  were  (Jii  their  death 
beds.  1  ho])e  1  shall  meet  my  relatives  in  a  bet¬ 
ter  world.  1  have  been  convinced  for  the  last 
two  years  that  my  time  wtis  short,  and  I  tried  to 
receive  religion,  but  did  not  get  it  until  1  came 
here.  My  religious  experience  1  cannot  exactly 
explain.  1  was  taken  with  shaking  as  if  1  had 
the  agtie,  and  the  heart  and  tongue  wanted  to 
praise  (lod,  even  after  1  had  gone  to  sleep.  1 
believe  I  have  received  ])ardon  from  (hjd,  and 
1  full}  believe  in  Jesus  Christ.  1  have  been 
treated  well  by  the  sheriff,  and  he  has  done  all 
he  c'ould  for  me.  1  have  done  all  1  could  to  re¬ 
strain  the  i)risoner.s.  1  had  never  any  wish  to 
escape  from  here,  except  through  the  influence 
of  the  law.  1  have  always  lived  a  wild  life,  and 
I  warn  others  from  living  such  a  lite.  Your 
time  may  be  short;  also  pre])are  to  meet  your 
Maker.  1  am  glad  Holder  was  commuted,  be¬ 
cause  1  am  the  only  man  who  killed  Calhoun. 
My  chief  regard  has  been  for  my  wife  and  chil¬ 
dren.  but  they  are  well  provided  for." 

This  appeased  the  mob,  but  the  sheriff. 
John  R.  Moore,  kept  the  shed  well  guarded. 
Some  show  man,  callous  to  the  surroundings, 
])lastered  its  walls  with  advertisements  of  his 
coming  attraction,  and  brought  down  on  him¬ 
self  the  dis])leasure  of  the  crowd. 

Myers  had  asked  that  the  execution  take 
jilace  after  noon  and  before  one  o'clock,  and 


66 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


that  the  church  hells  toll  after  his  death.  This 
was  t^ranted.  Later  in  the  morning-  he  sent 
James  Boone  to  still  the  crowd,  and  to  tell  them 
that  it  was  his  wish  that  the  law  take  its  course. 
But  the  e.xcitement  continued  to  grow,  until  at 
12  o’clock  the  sheriff  quietly  told  the  doomed 
man  his  hour  had  come,  and  the  death  march  > 
began.  Revs.  Steadman  and  Corley  accompan¬ 
ied  the  prisoner  to  the  scaffold,  just  before  the 
drop,  Olivers  again  publicly  professed  his  faith 
in  Christ.  At  12:20  the  trap  was  sprung,  the 
hodv  shot  down  several  feet  and  swung  round 
once  or  twice,  and  the  law  was  satisfied.  Drs. 
X'andyke  and  Kellar  made  the  official  e.xamina- 
tion  and  jironounced  him  dead. 

few  moments  later,  the  crowd,  getting  lie- 
yond  control,  hurst  into  the  shed  and  the  scene 
that  followed,  when  thev  learned  thcv  were  too 


late,  lieggars  description.  Old  residents  say 
they  hope  they  may  never  see  the  like  again. 
The  metropolitan  jiapers,  in  describing  it,  say 
"it  was  one  of  the  most  revolting  criminal 
scenes  in  America."  iNlen.  women  and  children 
comprised  the  crowd ;  relic  hunters  contended 
with  the  relatives  of  the  deceased  man  ;  and  his 
friends  and  foes  vied  with  each  other  in  their 
revilings. 

The  other  condemned  men  had  a  fate  nearly 
as  horrible.  Phillip  Grass  died  in  the  peniten¬ 
tiary.  Holder  went  insane,  and  for  years  lay  in 
the  state  prison  a  raving  maniac,  finally  dying 
there.  Wm.  Grass  serve<l  out  his  20  years,  and 
came  back  to  Shelby  county,  where,  later,  he 
also  went  insane,  and  died  a  pauper  at  the  county 
])Oor  farm. 


FORTY  YEARS’  EXPERIENCE  AS  A  MISSIONARY  IN 

SHELBY  COUNTY. 

I  .\(  I.r  1)1  N(i  kK.\I  IMSCKNCKS  ()l-  IIIK  DRINK  KXIl,  KIKIV  \  i:.\RS  .VDO,  l.OC.M.  T  R( )  D  I!  1 .  IN  rill'. 
C'I\n,  WVR,  I'KM  I’KR.'iNDK  RKI-'ORM  ( '  R  I' S.V  I )  K,  .V  N  I )  IIIK  SIRl'Di;!.!-;  I'O  RSTAIil.ISll 

1,1  riii.\  sRRiNcs  cii.vr'iwrcji  A. 

A  PERSONAL  HISTORY  by  JASPER  L.  DOUTHIT. 


('II ai*'I'i:k  VIII. 


The  ])ul)lishers  of  this  History  have  kindly 
recjuested  me  to  prepare  for  its  i)af>;es  a  sketch 
of  my  labors  as  a  missionary  in  this  comity.  As 
1  was  l)orn  here  over  66  years  ajfo.  and  for  the 
l)ast  40  years  have  L-een  mostly  en^-aged  as  a 
ITiitarian  missionary  in  this  retfion,  the  sketch 
must  necessarily  be  largely  anto-l)ioi>Ta])hical. 
my  life  and  my  mission  work  beinjj  insejiarable. 
'I'liis  will  explain,  and  1  hojie  somewhat  excuse, 
so  nmch  reference  to  myself,  it  seems  very  little 
1  have  done — ‘‘Hy  the  <:^race  of  (lod  I  am  what 
1  am."  and  have  been  able  to  do  any  j^ood  thinjj. 
"I  have  learned  from  the  .Swedish  sage  that  he 
who  takes  to  himself  the  credit  of  good  works 
which  the  Lord  enables  him  to  ])erform,  is  at 
heart  a  thief — he  takes  what  does  not  belong  to 
him."  ( 1  (piote  the  words  of  Charles  Gordon 
.\mes,  of  the  Church  of  the  Disciples,  vHoston, 
the  church  of  which  James  Freeman  Clarke  was 
])astor  most  of  his  life,  from  his  recent  discourse 
on  "Fiftv  Years  a  Minister.  A  Personal  Fietro- 
siiect."  Dr.  .\mes  gave  the  charge  at  my  ordi¬ 
nation,  Detroit,  Mich.,  June  22,  1862,  and  is  one 
of  the  noble  saints  and  true  friends  through 
whom  the  good  God  has  greatly  blessed  my  life.) 
I  have  fallen  far  short  of  what  I  hoped  for  and 
what  1  might  have  done  if  I  had  been  a  wiser 
and  a  better  man.  I  consent  to  tell  this  story  in 
the  ho])e  that  it  may  hel])  others  to  be  better  and 
do  more  for  God,  Home,  Country  and  Mankind. 


W'lllHH-:  1  HA\  F  l’.h:h:X  l-OR  SlXTV-vSIX 
Vl-.ARS. 

My  life  has  been  spent  in  and  near  Shelby- 
ville,  excepting;  The  18  months  1  was  with  my 
parents  in  Texas,  in  1843 — 44;  ])art  of  a  year  at 
Wabash  college.  Crawfordsvillc,  Indiana,  in 
1856:  six  months  in  Hillsboro,  this  state,  in  1858. 
as  snjierintendent  of  Public  Schools:  a  year  in 
Massachusetts  (1858 — p),  in  the  employ  of  I'ow- 
ler  <S:  W  ells,  Phrenologists  and  I’nblishers,  at 
their  branch  oEhce  in  ISoston,  and  lecturing  on 
Phrenology  and  kindred  subjects  in  towns  round 
about;  three  years  at  Divinity  school,  Meadville, 
Pennsylvania.  1864 — 7;  and  three  months  im¬ 
mediately  after  graduation.  (1867).  as  jiastor  of 
the  Lhiitarian  Society  in  Princeton,  Illinois.  I 
resigned  that  charge  in  the  face  of  the  unani¬ 
mous  ])rotest  of  the  members,  (three  of  whom 
were  worthy  brothers  of  the  poet,  W’m.  Cullen 
Pryant),  and  also  contrary  to  the  wish  of  some 
dear  friends  like  Robert  Collyer.  Indeed,  it 
seemed  a  foolish  move  to  most  of  my  friends  to 
give  up  a  good  salary  and  plea.sant  peojile,  and 
come  to  this  county,  where  1  must  serve  without 
salary,  and  struggle  in  poverty  with  a  wife  and 
two  children.  Put  God  and  my  wife  and  my 
sorely  troubled  mother  knew  why  I  felt  this  to 
be  the  loudest  call  on  earth  to  me. 

FAMILY  AXD  FOREFATHERS. 

I  am  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  five  .sons  and 
two  daughter.s — one  son  dying  in  infancy.  My 


68 


KEV.  JASPER  L.  DOrXHlT. 


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t’"  '■-SHB  .'*  .S' V--  ‘  %'*. 

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-  J. 


‘'“1 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


four  brothers,  Levi  X.,  Franeis  M..  (jeorqe 
and  W’m.  F.,  and  two  sisters.  Mrs.  Mari^aret 
IClliott  and  Mrs.  Xancv  Tlionias,  live  near  me. 
and  have  been  affectionate  co-workers  witli  me 
always,  llrother  (jeorf.;e  ])assed  to  heaven  over 
twenty-five  years  aj^o,  after  a  brief,  but  verv 
brilliant  and  impressive  career  lookinj;-  to  the 
ministry,  so  that  1  cannot  think  of  him  as  dead, 
but  mightily  alive  and  near  me. 

I  was  married  to  Miss  Kmily  Lovell,  at  IList 
.\bington,  (now  Rockland),  Mass.,  Xov.  2.  1S57. 
'I'o  this  woman,  under  (iod,  1  owe  most  of  what 
I  have  been  and  what  I  have  done  of  good  for 
forty-threc  years :  and  our  children,  two  .sons, 
and  two  daughters,  have  been  loving  co-work¬ 
ers  with  us  for  the  Fetter  Day.  (  )ur  xoungest 
daughter  came  as  a  Christmas  gift  when  the 
mother  was  busy  ])re])aring  for  the  first  Christ¬ 
mas  tree  ever  I  saw.  It  was  for  the  Sunday 
school  at  I^(yg  Church,  4  miles  east  of  Shelbv- 
ville,  on  Christmas  hive,  .\.  I).  i.Syi  ;  and  that 
child  from  the  time  she  was  old  enough  to  be 
carried  to  church  and  Sunday  school,  a  babe  in 
her  mother's  arms,  has  never  to  this  dav  inissed 
weekly  attendance  at  church  and  Sunday  school 
with  one  c.xception ;  and  then  she  was  so 
sick  the  doctor  said  we  must  not  take  her, 
though  she  cried  as  if  heart-broken  to  go;  and 
for  many  years  she  has  been  a  devoted  Sunday 
school  teacher.  ( )ur  youngest  son.  Robert 
Collyer,  is  ])astor  of  the  L’nitarian  church, 
Fetersham,  Mass.,  one  (jf  the  older  congrega¬ 
tions  in  Xew  England:  (ieorge  L..  our  eldest 
son,  supplies  my  pul])it  occasionally,  besides 
acting  as  business  manager  for  (  )ur  Rest  Words, 
and  for  Rost  Office  Mission  and  Lithia 
Si>rings  interests.  Our  oldest  daughter,  Helen, 
(wife  of  Mr.  josei)h  Garis.  a  railroad  em¬ 
ployee),  has  always  been  a  most  faithful  and 


cheerful  helper  in  all  good  work.  They  were 
all  born  and  trained  as  children  of  the  church. 

After  many  years  of  preaching  about  the 
county  to  little  flocks  here  and  there,  1  have 
been  ])astor  for  twenty-five  vears  of  the  I'irst 
Congregational  (L'nitarian)  church  m  Shelbvville 
and  the  Church  of  Liberal  Christians  now  wor- 
shi])ing  at  Jordan  Chapel  (near  Lithia  Springs), 
and  within  200  yards  of  the  s])ot  where  1  first 
saw  the  earth.  Ly  the  chapel  are  the  graves  of  mv 
grandmother  and  grandfather  Douthit,  and  my 
father  and  mother  and  hosts  of  kindred,  at  many 
of  whose  funerals  1  have  been  called  to  minis¬ 
ter.  In  fact,  there  are  few  homes  among  older 
residents  within  a  radius  of  si.x  miles  of  my  birth. 
])lace  where  1  have  not  gone  on  such  errands. 
This  chapel  is  at  the  head  of  Jordan  Creek, 
named  for  m_\-  mother's  father,  who  settled  near 
that  place  over  70  years  ago  when  the  Indians 
were  the  only  inhabitants  of  this  region.  My 
mother  was  born  in  a  fort  iii'  I'ranklin  county. 
Southern  Illinois.  The  fort  was  built  by  her 
father,  Francis  Jordan,  and  his  brother  Thomas, 
to  ])rotect  their  families  and  other  pioneer  set¬ 
tlers  from  the  Indians.) See  Reynold's  Pioneer 
History  of  Illinois,  page  40C.)  My  great-grand¬ 
father.  FA'an  Douthit,  came  with  his  family  from 
near  Xashville.  Tenn.,  about  1830,  and  built  him 
a  log  cabin  home  five  miles  east  of  Jordan 
Chapel,  on  what  is  now  Sam'l  Duncan's  farm. 
This  was  still  standing,  half  up  and  half  down, 
till  1896.  What  interests  me  about  this  cabin 
is  the  fact  that  the  dear  old  grandsire  and  his 
little  A'elsh-lrish  wife  (my  great-grandmother 
who  died  in  Palestine,  Texas,  at  the  age  of  i  15 
years)  were  then  (  1830)  accustomed  to  walk  to¬ 
gether  on  Sundays,  five  miles,  through  a  ])ath- 
less  forest  and  high  ])rairie  grass,  to  attend  re¬ 
ligious  meetings  near  where  Jordan  Chapel  now 
stands,  two  miles  south  of  Lithia  Springs. 


69 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


SOMIC  ClIl’RCH  STATISTiCvS,  l-'/l'C.,  oF 
TllK  AIISSIOX. 

'J'licrc  have  been  built  in  this  mission  four 
cbnrcli  edifices  in  Slielby  county,  tlie  largest 
being  a  substantial  brick  structure,  costing  $6,- 
ooo,  and  three  of  wood,  costing  res])ectively, 
$1,500,  and  $i,Joo,  and  one  in  Mattoon, 
costing  $10,000.  besides  a  tabernacle  for  onr 
snnnner  meetings  at  Litbia,  seating  about  2,0(XJ 
])ersons  or  more.  As  nearly  as  1  can  estimate, 
one  tbonsand  persons  have  been  received  into 
membersbip  under  my  ministry  in  this  vicinity, 
two  bnndred  children  christened,  nearly  one 
thomsand  funerals  attended,  and  about  four  bnn¬ 
dred  marriage  ceremonies  performed.  'I'be 
church  membersbip  has  been  largely  com])osed 
of  young  jjeople  and  tenants  that  are  now  scat¬ 
tered  over  many  states,  leaving  only  a  few  dozen 
near  enough  to  attend  at  Jordan  Chapel  and 
Shelbyville. 

'I'here  have  come  from  my  congregations 
eight  i)ersons  who  are  now  ordained  ministers 
of  the  gospel.  Three  of  these  are  graduates 
at  Meadville,  and  are  now  pastors  of  Unitarian 
congregations  ;  and  one  is  a  woman  of  national 
rei)ntation  for  her  ])bilanthroi)ic  and  gospel  tem¬ 
perance  labors.  .\t  least  six  ministers  in  other 
denomination.s — some  of  whom  are  (juite  i)rom- 
inent  for  their  ability — received  their  first  quick¬ 
ening  for  the  ministry  with  these  congregations. 

Meantime  1  have  been  engaged  in  anti¬ 
slavery,  temperance,  and  other  social  reform  and 
general  educational  work.  h'or  the  last  ten 
years  I  have  sn])erintended  annual  Chantampia 
Assemblies  and  Summer  Schools  at  Tvithia 
S])rings.  In  connection  with  editorial  work  on 
( )nr  Rest  Words  for  twenty  years  i)ast,  myself 
and  son,  (/eorge  L.  Donthit,  have  published, 
besides  various  tracts  and  pamphlets,  the  follow¬ 


ing  hooks,  most  of  which  I  have  edited,  namelv: 
Shelby  Seminary  Memorial.  Illustrated.  Cloth, 
116  i)ages  :  (  )ut  of  Darkness  Into  Fight;  The 
Journal  of  a  Fereaved  Mother,  hv  Mrs.  M.  .\. 
Deane,  cloth,  400  pages;  and  'I'he  Idfe  Storv 
and  Fersonal  I'Jeminiscences  of  Col.  John  So- 
hieski,  cloth,  400  pages.  Illustrated. 

HOW  .\.\D  W  11I-:X  1  lUCCWMlC  UXI- 
TA  R1.\X. 

I  cannot  remember  when  1  did  not  hold 
substantially  to  the  Unitarian  faith,  hut  I  did 
not  take  the  name  Unitarian  till  near  the  time 
of  my  ordination  to  the  ministry,  about  thirtv- 
eight  years  ago.  I  began  to  talk  and  preach 
Unitarian  ideas  some  years  before  1  knew  there 
was  a  religious  ])eople  of  that  name  in  exist¬ 
ence. 

My  forefathers  were  Calvinists,  my  great¬ 
grandfather  Donthit  being  a  zealous  I’redesti- 
narian  ("  1  lardshell’')  Faptist  preacher.  .\.s  a 
hoy.  I  craved  tcj  believe  with  and  belong  to  that 
church,  hut  1  could  not  honestly— for  my  whole 
soul  revolted  at  some  of  its  doctrines — and  my 
parents  advised  me  against  ])retending  to  be¬ 
lieve  what  I  could  not  for  my  life  really  believe. 
Such  ])reten.se,  my  parents  said,  would  he  hv- 
])ocrisy — the  very  thing  that  Jesus  most  severely 
condemned.  And  so  J  came  to  think  it  were 
much  better  for  professed  followers  of  Christ 
to  he  united  for  worship  and  work  by  agreeing 
to  disagree,  in  all  sincerity  and  kindness,  rather 
than  to  “Make-lSelieve"  or  seem  to  say  to  the 
public  that  they  accept  doctrines  which  their 
rea.son  and  conscience  reject.  And  after  fifty 
years  of  taking  evidence  on  this  point.  I  am  con¬ 
vinced  that  many  young  people  are  temi)ted 
precisely  as  I  was;  and  alas!  too  many  have 
\  ielded.  and  have  been  thus  lead  into  a  life-time 


70 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


(jf  religious  insincerity.  (See  pul)lishe(l  pamplilet, 
"The  Creeds  or  Christ."} 

W  hen  a  mere  lad  1  felt  so  mnch  desire  to 
became  a  Christian  that  I  would  gladly  have 
walked  a  long  journey  to  find  a  congregation 
that  would  have  given  me  membership  on  my 
simple  confession  of  a  determined  ])ur])ose  to  live 
a  Christian  life,  leaving  me  free  with  the  I’ible 
to  decide  as  to  doctrinal  points.  I  remember 
when  1  first  e.xpressed  to  my  mother  this  desire, 
she  exclaimed:  "WMiy,  my  child,  I  thought  all 
good  people  believed  that  way!"  lint  I  soon 
learned  that  all  the  churches  around  me  insisted 
upon  a  great  deal  more  of  a  confession  as  a  con¬ 
dition  of  membershi[).  Therefore,  for  a  long 
time,  I  must  walk  alone  ;  Jlnd  1  would  have  al¬ 
most  lost  faith  in  all  churches  and  all  religion 
but  for  a  mother's  love  and  saintly  example. 

WITH  THE  METHODIST  ClirkCll  .\T 
SCHOOL. 

1  had  been  to  school  but  about  nine 
months  when  I  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age: 
and  that  was  to  subscription  school,  kept  part 
of  the  time  in  a  house  with  only  the  bare  earth 
for  a  door.  When  about  i8,  1  became  so  de¬ 
termined  to  get  an  education  that  1  left  home 
against  my  father's  will,  and  hired  to  work  on 
the  grading  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  near 
where  I’ana  now  stands,  in  order  to  get  money 
to  i)ay  my  wa}’  at  school.  lUit  1  was  persuaded 
to  return  home,  and  remained  until  Shelby 
.\cadem\  was  o])ened,  at  which  I  was  i)resent 
the  first  day,  March  20,  1834.  This  institution 
was  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  church. 

When  about  21  years  old  1  made  i)ublic 
confession  of  religion  and  was  baptized,  kneel¬ 
ing  in  the  waters  of  the  ( )kaw,  at  Shelbyville  : 
Rev.  Isaac  Groves,  then  pastor  of  the  First 


Methodist  church  here,  performing  the  cere¬ 
mony.  1  worship|)ed  and  worked  with  that 
church  for  several  years.  Though  never  yielding 
formal  assent  to  its  articles  of  faith,  I  was  treated 
as  kindly  as  if  1  had  been  a  bona  fide  member, 
and  I  have  ever  held  that  church  in  grateful  re¬ 
gard  as  my  foster  mother  in  religion. 

.-\niong  the  most  loyal  and  loved  friends  for 
over  forty  years,  have  been  IVinci])al  Clias.  W. 
Jerome  and  Robert  M.  Rell,  associate  teachers 
in  that  old  Shelby  .\cademy.  .\nd  among  my 
heartiest  co-workers  in  this  mission  have  been 
Methodist  ministers.  The  ])astor  of  the  h'irst 
M.  E.  church,  Shell)yville,  was  about  the  first 
one  in  the  country  to  welcome  me  to  ])reach  in 
his  ])ulpit.  soon  after  1  was  ordained  by  Cnitar- 
ians,  though  about  that  same  time  the  Cumber¬ 
land  Rresbvterian  church,  of  \\  ind.st)r.  Rev.  W  . 

.  M.  llarber,  pastor,  was  opened  for  me.  I'he 
first  ])astor  of  a  .Shelbwille  church  to  ])ro])ose 
a  i)ulpit  exchange  with  me  was  the  i)astor  of 
the  Second  M.  E.  church.  Shelbyville,  Rev. 
lames  M.  West  now  of  1 ’loomington.  111.  The 
late  Rev.  James  E.  Crane.  General  Grant's  close 
friend  and  cha])lain  in  the  Civil  war.  father  of 
I)rs.  l^rank  and  Chas.  Crane,  was  one  of  the 
first  Methodists  1  ever  heard  speak.  1'hat  was 
when  T  was  at  Shelby  Seminary.  He  was  the 
pastor  of  the  l^irst  Methodist  church  in  the  early 
\ears  t)f  mv  ministr\’  in  Shell)\  ville.  and  treated 
me  most  brotherly.  Through  his  iuHuencc  T 
was  chosen  President  of  the  Shelb\  villc  .Minis¬ 
terial  Cnion,  (the  first  club  of  the  kind  organ¬ 
ized  here,  1  believe),  of  which  the  pastors  of  all 
Protestant  congregations  in  the  city,  excei)ting 
])erha]is  one,  were  members.  .\  few  \  ears  since, 
and  a  while  before  he  was  promoted,  the  Metho¬ 
dist  veteran  and  saint.  Isaac  (n'oves.  at  the  age 
of  80  vears,  came  from  his  home  at  Crbana.  ill., 
to  visit  me  and  preach  in  the  ])ulpit  of  the  "sin- 


/ 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


f^ular  shcc])"  lie  baptized  over  two  score  years 
as^o.  'I'he  I’niversalist  saint,  (now  also  octot^e- 
narian),  l\ev.  Dr.  \  anunn  Lincoln,  of  .Xndover. 
.Mass.,  who  helped  to  make  me  and  a  N'ankee 
j^irl  one.  and  who  ijave  me  a  most  .  fatherly 
oreetiii”'  in  lloston  recently,  conld  not  have  been 
more  cordial  to  me  and  my  con^rci^ation  than 
was  this  dear  old  .Methodist  pastor.  Snrelv.  1 
have  s])ecial  reasons  for  thankini;'  (lod  for  the 
.Methodist  church. 

1  became  identified  with  I'nilarians  sinpily 
because  they  were  the  only  i)eople  th.it  would 
accord  me  full  freedom  to  preach  the  (iospel  as 
(iod  j^ave  me  to  see  it.  without  dictation  by 
I’ope.  Synod,  or  Conference,  one  man  or  a  mil¬ 
lion  men.  lint  I  used  that  liberty,  in  fact,  for 
five  \  ears  before  my  ordination.  'I  he  year  be¬ 
fore  the  Civil  war  bejj^an  1  solicited  tnnds  and 
helped  build  a  Meetinj.^  House,  in  the  woods 
four  miles  east  and  south  of  Shelby ville.  that 
we  named  "Liberty,"  which  was  free  for  relij^i- 
ous  and  other  public  meetings.  Here  I  tried  to 
preach,  and  organize  a  Sunday  school.  ('I'hat 
house  went  u|)  in  flames  during  the  war.)  'I'he 
burden  of  my  first  mes.sage  was 

"Lir.KRTV.  I'XIO.X.  CH.\Rl'rY.  'I'lLMRICR- 
.X.XCL  .\XI)  RICILI'IM  fl'S.XKSS." 

'I'hese  words  have  ever  had  a  sjiecial  charm 
to  me  since  I  first  caught  any  of  their  meaning — 
though  like  all  the  great  words,  thev  vield  a 
thousand  times  more  meaning  the  longer  the 
things  they  stand  for  are  pondered,  even  as  the 
real  discovery  of  .America  has  been  e.xtending 
since  Columbus  sighted  a  little  of  its  shores.  .My 
favorite  te.xt  was  Raul’s  theme  before  Feli.x; 
"Righteousness,  temperance  and  the  judgment 
to  come."  I  warned  of  the  judgment  to  come 
against  what  to  me  were  the  twin  evils  :  strong 
drink  and  .\frican  slaverv. 


'I'he  drink  custom  was  terrible  in  my  neigh¬ 
borhood.  and  very  early  the  serpent  began  to 
crawl  through  our  home.  'I'here  was  an  old 
still  house  near  by,  and  the  candidate  for  office 
that  was  most  lavish  in  treating  voters  to  whisky 
was  usuall}’  elected.  I  have  seen  kegs  of  licpior 
j)laced  at  the  ])olling  jilace  all  day,  free  as  water 
for  everybody,  and  at  night  most  every  one 
would  be  more  or  less  drunk,  including  the 
judges  and  clerks  of  the  election.  It  was  the 
custom  50  years  ago  here  on  Christmas  and 
Xew  \’ear'.s.  for  neighbors  to  come  together  at 
one  |)lace  and  have  what  was  called  a  whiskx 
stew  and  s])ree.  big  iron  kettle  or  pot  fused 
for  making  soap  and  washing  clothes)  that 
could  hold  eight  or  ten  gallons,  was  filletl  with 
whisky  and  other  stuff,  and  made  hot  and 
sweetened  for  men  and  women,  and  boys  and 
girls  to  drink.  'I'his  was  the  Christmas  or  Xew 
Year's  treat.  The  decanter  of  "bitters"  sat  on  the 
sideboard  in  many  homes,  and  the  preachers 
who  were  being  entertained  drank  before  and 
after  the  sermon.  W  hen  a  small  boy,  1  attended 
a  sort  of  bar  (a  grocery  store  kept  by  my  father 
where  sugar,  coffee,  etc.,  and  whisky  were  sold, 
and  felt  honored  in  the  doing,  until  very  soon 
my  eyes  were  ojiened  to  the  horrors  of  it.  .\ 
great  hearted  man  whom  1  loved  when  he  was 
sober,  became  a  terror  to  his  family  and  t(j  every¬ 
body.  and  said  he  couldn't  hel])  it,  and  so  in  des- 
])erate  remorse  he  resolved  to  kill  himself  with 
drink,  and  he  did.  I  see  him  now  as  he  came 
to  our  "grocery"  (dramsho]))  one  day  with  a 
sled  drawn  over  the  snow  by  a  bob-tailed  horse, 
saying  that  he  had  come  for  his  last  barrel  of 
whisky.  It  was  loaded  on  his  sled  and  he  got 
astride  and  started  homeward  saying :  "This  is 
my  coffin."  When  he  drank  till  he  was  so  weak 
he  could  not  help  himself  to  it,  the  doctor  was 
called  and  said  he  must  have  a  little  toddv 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


(weakened  wliisky)  to  keep  him  alive.  1  sat 
l)y  him  and  f^ave  him  tlie  toddy  in  a  teaspoon 
till  he  breathed  his  last.  ( 1  would  haw  scru])le.'. 
about  obeyin'^  such  medical  advice  now.)  1 
saw  many  others  thus  stunj.^  to  death.  1  saw 
homes  made  miserable  and  destroyed.  1  was 
alarmed  and  would  tend  bar  no  more. 

\’()\\'  OK  TOT.AL  .\1’.ST1.\’EN'CE. 

1  had  never  heard  or  read  any  lectures  on 
total  abstinence,  but  1  was  ambitious  to  study 
ami  be  an  intelligent,  wise  man.  and  1  saw  that 
whisky  made  me  silly,  and  so  at  about  ib  years 
of  ag'e  1  vowed  total  abstinence.  1  have  ke|)t 
that  vow  to  this  day,  and  see  more  t^ood  rea- 
.sons  for  it  the  lousier  1  live. 

Thirty  years  aj^o  I  was  rejected  by  Life  In¬ 
surance  com])anies  as  an  unsafe  risk,  'riionith 
always  frail  of  body  and  often  suffering;-  severely 
with  nervous  prostration.  1  enjoy  better  health 
today  than  in  any  ])eriod  (E  my  life,  and  am  a 
ha])pier  man  as  the  years  roll  on.  'I'his  in¬ 
creased  health  and  ha])pine.ss  1  believe  to  be 
largely  the  restilt  of  total  abstinence  from  li(|uor 
and  narcotics;  and  also  of  striving  to  be  tem- 
])erate  in  all  things,  though  sadly  failing  in  this 
eftort  sometimes.  .Mas!  the  graveyards  round 
me  are  populous  with  victims  of  drink,  most  of 
w  hom  were  younger  than  1,  and  of  much  strong¬ 
er  constitution  ;  and  many  of  them  among  the 
noblest  and  best  but  for  the  demon  that  ruined 
them  in  body,  mind  and  sold.  Why  shoidd  1 
not  vow  relentless  hostilitv  to  this  monstrous 
robber  and  murderer? 

COLL ECT 1  .\ ( ;  'I'.X X  h:S— S L.\ \’ h: I'l \ — 
“THE  ITCH  For  DISRCT.XTK  )X." 

1  had  an  o])portunity  to  know  much  of  the 
habits  of  people  in  this  county.  Mv  father  kept 


the  Rostoffice  (called  Locust  (move)  at  our  home, 
five  miles  east  of  Shelbyville.  over  50  years  ago, 
w  hen  the  mail  was  carried  on  a  stage  coach  from 
Terre  Haute  through  Charleston.  Shelbyville, 
etc.,  to  Siiringfield.  The  Locust  Cirove  jirecinct 
election  was  then  held  for  years  at  our  house. 
My  father  for  much  of  his  life  held  some  office 
of  trust.  He  was  for  several  \ears  sheriff  and 
e.x-ofticio  collector  of  this  countv.  He  collected 
all  the  ta.xes  in  the  county,  traveling  from  town- 
shi])  to  township  to  do  it.  'I'lie  revenue  must 
be  paid  in  gold  and  silver,  and  father  hanlcd  it 
up  to  Siiringfield  in  a  two-horsc  co\'crcd  wagon. 
1  served  part  ot  the  time  as  his  dc])uty,  or  as¬ 
sistant,  and  thus  became  ac(|uainted  with  many 
]>eo])le.  'I'he  county  officers  were  generous, 
sociable,  pleasant  men,  and  the  custom  of  treat¬ 
ing  to  drinks  caused  most  of  tbem  to  fall  victims 
to  the  habit.  '1  bus  many  men  of  the  most  popu¬ 
lar  (pialities  were  ruined,  among  them  some  o) 
mv  nearest  and  dearest.  I'or  these  reasons  my 
first  mission  work  was  in  fighting  this  evil.  In 
these  battles  1  have  received  the  severest  wounds 
of  m\  life.  1  have  been  cursed  ad  infinitum, 
libeled  and  blackmailed  again  and  again,  and 
my  salary  reduced  one-half;  my  life  and  prop¬ 
erty  has  been  often  in  peril. 

My  first  e.\])eriencc  with  .\frican  slavery 
was  when,  ten  years  of  age.  1  saw  its  workings 
in  d'exas.  1  worked  with  the  slaves  in  the  cot¬ 
ton  fields  and  cotton  gins,  and  came  to  love  the 
negroes — thev  were  so  very  kind  to  me.  'I'hey 
would  gather  in  their  cabins  on  Sunday  and  of 
nights,  to  hear  me  read  the  llible  to  them.  'I'hen 
seemed  to  come  to  me  my  first  call  to  preach. 
1  saw  slaves  for  slightest  offenses  cruelly  beaten 
bv  drunken  overseers,  till  blood  ran  down  their 
bodies  to  their  heels.  1  took  their  part  and  long¬ 
ed  to  live  to  help  them  toward  the  Xorth  Star.  So 
far  as  1  know.  1  was  the  first  person  in  this  conn- 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


ty  to  (k’clari'  and  contend  i)nl)licly  for  the  aboli¬ 
tion  of  African  slavery,  thon,”li  1  had  hc  ird  my 
motlicr  and  otlicrs  often  s])eak  of  slavery  as  a 
”reat  wroniL,^. 

'Phe  preachers  1  heard  forty  and  fifty  years 
ajyo  had  what  some  one  has  called  ‘‘an  ich  for 
dis])utation’'  and  heresy  Imntinj;',  so  that  coiy<;^re- 
ifations  were  split  all  to  pieces  over  such  cpies- 
tions  as  whether  (iod  made  the  devil  or  the  devil 
made  himself.  .\nd  there  w<is  hitter  controversy 
and  tnrnin^'  each  other  out  of  church  on  such 
(piestions  as  communion  and  hai)tism,  rej^^ard- 
less  of  how  pure  the  character  of  the  heretic 
mis^ht  he.  1  thoutfht  such  relit^ious  “fussini^" 
was  all  wroiptt;:  and  so  the  first  sermon  1  tried 
to  preach  was  a^uunst  what  was  then  called 
"l’ul])it  h'i}.>htin,it'."  w  hich  was  not  a  li.ifht  aijainst 
sin  or  moral  heresies,  hut  aifaiiist  some  sup¬ 
posed  doctrinal  unsoundness.  l>ut  I  dare  say  1 
sometimes  made  the  mistake  of  showiip”'  some 
of  the  same  spirit  w  hich  1  severeh'  condemned  ; 
for  1  have  never  found  it  difficult  to  show,  on  a 
ijiven  occasion,  the  reeptisite  amount  of  indigna¬ 
tion  against  what  1  believed  to  he  wrong;  hut  to 
"speak  the  truth  iu  love,"  to  he  sweet  amidst 
‘‘an  evil  and  ])erverse  generation" — ah  !  that  is 
not  so  e:isy,  sometimes. 

Just  before  and  during  the  Civil  war  1  had 
public  controversies  with  "Hardshell”  Ilaptists 
and  "Christian"  (Disciples  of  Christ)  preachers 
on  the  (piestion  of  slavery  and  total  abstinence. 
Some  of  those  preachers  in  this  vicinit\'  argued 
from  the  llihle  for  slaver\-  and  wine  drinking. 
My  contentions  have  mostly  been  on  clearly 
moral  issues.  Nearly  all  of  my  preaching,  prob¬ 
ably  nineteen-twentieths  of  it,  has  been  practical, 
to  make  peo])le  better  in  character  and  life,  rather 
than  to  dispute  on  doctrinal  or  s])eculative 
lK)ints.  1  have  never  published  but  three  con¬ 
troversial  discourses,  to-w  it :  “The  Creeds  or 


C'hrist  ;"  A  "Tlea  for  Ueligious  llonestv"  and 
"llisho])  Ivdwards’  Mistakes.  "  being  a  repl\  to 
some  charges  made  against  I  nitarians  by 
llishop  David  iCdwards  of  the  I'nited  llrelhren 
church.  .\t  the  suggestion  of  Robert  Colber, 
members  of  Cnity  church.  Chicago.  hel])ed  to 
])rint  this  last  named,  and  so  gave  it  .a  large 
circulation  in  this  region.  In  the  year  Carlield 
was  elected  i)resident,  1  had  a  discussion  with 
Kev.  Dr.  Isatic  iCrrett,  of  Cincinnati,  (  )hio.  'I'he 
discussion  began  by  Dr.  Drrett  criticising  in  his 
paper  (i’he  C'hristian  Standard),  a  discourse  of 
mine,  ])ublished  first  in  Manford‘s  Magazine, 
Chicago,  on  ".Alexander  Cami)beirs  Christian 
Sxstem,"  Dr.  iCrrett  kindly  allowed  me  to  re- 
l)ly  through  the  columns  of  his  paper,  and  the 
controversy  continued  for  several  issues.  Dr. 
h'.rrett  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Carfield,  and 
ministered  at  the  President's  funeral. 

TllK  KXICIITS  Op  TllK  CODDKX 
Cl  RCLE— PARTISAX  I>REJC- 
DICE. 

Early  in  life  1  learned  to  hate  ultra  partisan- 
shi])  and  prejudice,  es])ecially  after  1  was  fooled 
into  giving  my  first  ballot  for  a  ])ro-slavery  party 
when  1  thought  I  was  voting  against  slavery. 
■About  the  first  article  I  ever  ])repared  for  pub¬ 
lication  on  a  ])olitic"l  subject  was  a  i)lea  for 
“Fair  Play  in  I’olitics”  :  but  no  newspa])er  then 
])ublished  in  these  parts  would  print  it,  because 
it  was  not  only  a  plea  for  free  speech  but  for 
freedom  to  all  men.  The  article  ultimately  ap- 
])eared  in  the  Shelby  County  Freeman,  men¬ 
tioned  in  another  place. 

In  the  spring  of  1863,  1  reported  a  secret 
session  of  the  Knights  of  the  Colden  Circle  for 
the  papers.  The  real  object  of  that  order  was 
to  organize  to  resist  the  draft,  and  secretly  hel]) 


74 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


the  rehellion.  I’.ut  it  appeared  before  the  public 
in  the  guise  of  "Peace  Democracy."  Thus  it 
misled  many  well  meaning  people  and  gave  a 
chance  for  bushwhackers  and  other  emissaries 
of  the  confederacy  to  come  into  Southern  Illi¬ 
nois.  One  of  these  came  from  Missouri  into  my 
district.  He  called  himself  a  ])reacher.  He  held 
meetings  at  "Liberty  Meeting  House."  This 
house  was  built  for  the  double  purpose  of  school 
and  church,  in  fact  all  sorts  of  meetings — for  it 
was  the  only  house  where  public  meetings  could 
be  held  in  that  district ;  and  1  had  stipulated 
when  soliciting  funds  to  build  it,  that  it  should 
be  always  open  to  the  conmnmity,  sacred  to  free 
speech.  Well,  a  Knights  of  the  (njlden  Circle 
lodge  was  organized  there  by  the  Missouri  bush¬ 
whacker,  and  a  score  or  more  of  my  neighbors 
joined  it.  Ilesides  secret  sessions,  the  lodge  held 
open  meetings,  to  which  everybodv  was  wel¬ 
come.  In  these  meetings  ])eace  and  union  were 
talked.  1  went  to  one  of  the  meetings  and  asked 
permission  to  speak  f(jr  peace  and  union.  It 
was  left  to  a  vote,  and  there  were  enough  of  the 
bushwhacker  and  his  friends  to  say  that  no  aboli¬ 
tionist  should  si)eak.  The  bushwhacker  said  ; 
"If  an  abolitionist  wants  free  si)eech.  let  him  go 
to  the  woods  and  bellow  to  his  heart's  content." 
Put  a  younger  brother  of  mine  (('icorge  \\  ..) 
who  was  not  known  to  the  bttshwacker  and  was 
so  very  (|uiet  and  sleepy-looking  that  night  that 
he  was  scarcely  noticed  in  the  great,  noisy 
crowd,  was  not  ])ut  out.  Then  was  held  the  se¬ 
cret  session  in  which  the  so-called  preacher  and 
bushwhacker  made  a  rousing  speech.  He  de¬ 
nounced  Judge  .\nthonv  'riiornton  and  other 
prominent  Douglass  (I'nion)  Democrats.  He 
said  :  "Had  it  not  been  for  such  weak-kneed 
cowardly  traitors  we  should  have  had  the  tyrant 
Lincoln  dethroned  long  ago,  yea,  verily,  and  be¬ 
headed.  (Applause.)  *  "  1  tell  you  we 


must  prepare  to  fight.  Clean  out  your  old  guns 
and  get  ready.  If  you  have  no  gun.  go  up  north 
and  press  one,  and  while  you  are  there  i)ress  a 
horse  and  ammunition.  If  we  can't  fight  on  a 
large  scale,  we  can  bushwhack  it.  If  vou  don’t 
know  how.  1  can  teach  you.  I  have  had  some 
e.xperience  in  bushwhacking  mvself.  " 

My  younger  brother  had  an  e.xcellent  mem¬ 
ory,  and  re])orted  that  speech  word  for  word. 
I  tried  in  vain  to  get  any  of  the  local  papers  to 
]mblish  that  report.  They  refnsed.  not  because 
its  correctness  was  (luestioned.  and  some  of  the 
editors  expressed  to  me  in  confidence  their  ab¬ 
horrence  of  the  bushwhacker's  speech  ;  but  the 
])iess  of  this  county  then  was  all  of  one  party 
and  intensely  parti.san.  so  that  the  editors  said 
to  me  it  would  never  do  to  ])ublish  such  a  re¬ 
port.  It  w(juld  create  discord  in  the  party  and 
make  votes  for  the  "black  Re])ublicans.  "  i  then 
sent  the  report  to  the  St.  Louis  Democrat,  the 
Republican  daily  most  widely  read  in  this  part 
of  Illinois  then.  'I'hat  paper  made  the  most  of 
it.  It  printed  it  on  the  first  page,  under  loud 
head-lines  that  startled  the  whole  country.  The 
e.xcitement  was  intense.  It  was  as  if  a  bombshell 
had  hurst,  and  somebody  must  surely  get  hurt 
1)1'  leave  for  other  jtarts  in  a  hnrry.  I  felt  1  ought 
not  to  go.  lint  I  was  informed  by  a  vigilance 
committee  that  1  must  go.  either  vertically  or 
horizontally,  though  they  didn’t  use  those  words. 
They  talked  plain  .\nglo-Saxon.  They  said  I 
should  be  hung  or  have  a  coat  of  tar  and  feath¬ 
ers  and  ride  out  on  a  rail,  for  the  sake  of  peace. 
However,  it  was  decided  that  I  might  stay  if  I 
would  confess  that  I  had  made  false  re])ort  about 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  and  would  stop 
making"  rei)orts  to  the  ])a]H‘rs  ;  otherwise  it  was 
decreed  that  I  must  be  treated  as  a  s])y.  Hut  I 
was  so  stubborn  that  no  doubt  you  would  have 
been  s])ared  these  reminiscences  but  for  my 


HISTORIC  SKETCH . 


fatlicr  and  mother  and  a  lars>e  mnnher  of  kindred 
w  Iio,  tliouj^li  f^rieved  at  m_\’  ontspcjkenness, 
stront^ly  resented  any  violent  treatment  of  me. 
.\s  for  tlie  bnshwliaeker  and  Ids  deluded  vie- 
tims,  it  seemed  that  the  only  way  they  eould 
remain  in  the  locality  and  save  themselves  from 
arrest  hv  ^tjovernment  officials  was  to  deny  my 
rc'irort  and  publish  a  libel  on  me.  So  the  bush¬ 
whacker  prejrared  a  manifesto  for  the  signature 
of  others,  statins^  that  he  had  never  uttered  the 
words  reported  of  him  in  the  daily  jrairers,  and 
that  the  secret  conference,  held  at  Liberty  Meet¬ 
ing  House,  was  iu  the  interest  of  ])eace  and  har¬ 
mony  amonj^  neisa^hbors.  and  that  Jasjrer  l)ou- 
thit  was  a  notorious,  blood-thirsty  .\bolitionist. 
a  stirrer  up  r)f  strife  amon^  otherwise  peaceable 
nei.y;hbors.  Then,  to  induce  others  to  sijj^n  that 
manifesto,  the  bushwhacker  told  them  he  knew 
that  the  “black-hearted  .\be  Lincoln"  had  sent 
me  a  lot  of  government  arms  and  ammunition 
which  1  had  secreted  in  my  house  on  the  prairie, 
eight  miles  from  Shelbyville,  and  that  1  had  ccm- 
ceived  a  bloody  scheme  by  the  aid  of  some  blue 
coats  at  home  on  furlough.  'I'he  scheme  was  to 
set  on  fire  all  the  houses  of  i)eaceable  Demo¬ 
crats  iu  that  country,  and  shoot  down  all  the 
inmates — men,  women  and  children.  So  the 
bushwhacker  actually  induced  nine  citizens  to 
sign  their  names  to  his  manifesto,  and  it  was  ])ub- 
lished  in  the  i)arty  j^apers.  Some  of  them  signed 
it  or  rather  consented  to  let  the  bushwhacker 
use  their  names,  through  ignorance  of  what  the 
article  contained,  and  others  because  they  were 
made  to  b'elieve  it  was  the  only  way  to  save 
themselves  from  arrest,  and  perhaps  from  being 
shot.  ( 1  have  before  me  as  1  write  copies  of  all 
the  published  articles  above  referred  to.)  I 
learned  years  afterwards  that  all  concerned  in  that 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  meeting  held  a 
council  over  mv  report.  They  all  agreed  that 


1  had  "got  It  mighty  korect."  l’>ut  the  (piestion 
was.  how  1  got  it.  Some  susi)ected  a  traitor  in 
camp,  but  most  of  them  thought  that  after  they 
had  voted  me  “down  and  out"  that  night,  1  had 
climbed  through  the  house  roof  and  witnessed 
the  whole  proceedings  through  the  scuttle  hole 
in  the  loft.  'I'hev  never  suspected  my  young, 
sleepy-looking  brother.  'I'he  secrets  of  that 
drama  were  not  revealed  till  years  after.  1  have 
])ublicly  told  my  story  of  it  but  once  before,  and 
that  not  long  ago.  (  )ne  of  the  nine  who  signed 
the  libel  was  converted  at  a  Methodist  revival  a 
dozen  years  after  the  war.  'I'he  next  morning 
he  mounted  a  horse  and  rode  in  haste  five  miles 
to  my  cabin  home  in  the  woods  to  confess  his 
fault  and  asked  my  forgiveness.  .\11  but  two  of 
that  nine  have  ])assed  to  the  great  beyond.  Most 
of  them  abundantly  atoned  for  that  wrong  which 
they  were  lead  unwittingly  to  do  me.  Some  of 
them  became  earnest  members  of  my  congrega¬ 
tions,  and  I  ministered  at  the  funeral  of  several 
of  them. 

Here  let  me  say.  once  for  all,  that  in  re¬ 
lating  such  cases  of  foul  play  and  rash  judg¬ 
ment.  mv  sole  i)ur])(jse  is  to  arouse  a  hatred 
of  the  ignorance  and  ])rejudice  that  make  such 
wrongs  i)ossible.  I  only  wish  to  serve  and  bless 
those  who  may  have  ever  in  any  way  misjudged 

or  wronged  me.  Standing  over  their  graves  1 

✓ 

have  none  but  tender  recollections  with  sincere 
regrets  that  1  could  not  or  did  not  help  them 
more.  Life  is  too  short  for  holding  grudges.  I 
am  ha])pv  in  having  no  ill  will  toward  any  hu¬ 
man  being. 

'r.AKIXG  THE  RXROLLMEXT. 

.\  short  time  after  that  libel  had  been  widely 
circulated  1  was  ai)])ointed  to  take  the  enroll¬ 
ment  for  the  draft  in  this  county,  a  ])erilous  task 


76 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


of  course.  lUoody  riots  in  resisting  the  enroll¬ 
ment  were  of  frecjuent  occurrence  in  Southern 
Illinois  and  Indiana.  Some  enrolling  officers 
liad  been  shot  down.  .\11  the  people  seemed  to 
l)e  walking  on  the  thin  crust  of  a  volcano  that 
was  ready  to  hurst  at  any  hour.  1  then  lived  in 
a  small  cabin  eight  miles  southeast  of  Shelhyville. 
'I'he  Knights  of  the  (lolden  Circle  were  drilling 
in  sight  of  my  home  on  the  prairie  every  day,  to 
resist  the  "tyrant  Lincoln,"  as  they  called  liim. 
1  could  talk  and  reason  with  some  of  my  neigh¬ 
bors  :  but  many  were  glum  and  mum.  and  would 
give  me  no  chance  to  talk  with  them.  Some  had 
vowed  they  would  slujot  the  first  man  who  came 
around  to  take  their  names  for  the  draft.  I  was 
l)egged  by  some  friends  not  to  attempt  it.  I  bit 
others  said  1  was  the  only  one  there  to  do  it  and 
it  must  be  done,  and  they  advised  me  to  go 
thoroughly  armed.  1  was  offered  a  company  of 
soldiers  to  assist  me.  Ibit  1  said.  "Xo,  I  will 
have  no  weaiions  and  no  soldiers."  I  took  the 
jirecaution  to  disguise  myself  and  ride  a  dif¬ 
ferent  horse  every  day,  and  go  only  to  those  1 
thought  1  could  trust  and  get  names  of  the 
others  from  the  trustv  ones.  This  worked  very 
well,  e.xcejit  in  a  few  instances  1  made  the  mis¬ 
take  of  revealing  myself  to  foes  instead  of  friends. 
Some  had  read  that  bushwhacker’s  libel  in  their 
party  pajiers  and  tlie\'  believed  their  pajiers  then 
more  tlian  they  did  their  Lillies.  It  was  just 
such  ignorance  and  partisanshij)  that  made  the 
Ci\  il  war  possible. 

The  first  day,  at  one  house  where  1  went, 
the  man  grasjied  his  old  shot  gun  and  said  : 
"Xow  g'o  home  or  you  will  be  shot!"  1  took 
from  my  jioeket  a  little  pen  knife  and  replied  : 
"'I  his  is  all  the  weapon  I  have.  I  don't  want  to 
harm  a  hair  of  your  head.  Lut  I  am  not  going 
home  now.  'I'his  work  mnst  be  done.  If  you 
want  to  shoot  me.  just  bang  away.  There  are 


thousands  more  to  take  my  ])lace.  ”  The  fellow 
laid  his  gun  down  and  said:  "Jasper,  1  don’t 
want  to  shoot  you  ;  your  mother  is  such  a  good 
woman;  but  you  will  be  shot.  sure,  if  you  keep 
on."  1  was  then  warned  to  stoj).  by  Knights  of 
the  ('lolden  Circle  committees,  and  a  (Uizen  shots 
were  fired  into  the  o|)en  door  of  mv  house  at 
night  to  give  emphasis  to  the  warning.  Lut  the 
enrollment  was  completed  without  bloodshed. 
N  ears  after,  men  came  to  me  to  confess  and 
ajiologize  and  to  thank  me  for  doing  the  work- 
in  disguise;  for  they  said  they  had  determined 
to  kill  me  if  they  saw  me  at  it. 

It  was  hard  for  me  to  realize  th:it  such  kind¬ 
ly  disposed  peojile  as  1  had  always  known  those 
neighbors  to  be.  could  be  led  to  think  of  such 
murderous  acts.  Lut  if  war  teaches  what' a  man 
may  be  at  his  worst,  it  also  teaches  what  he  can 
be  at  his  best.  The  Autocrat  of  the  Lreakfast 
'I'able  once  a])ostro])hized  war  as  a  diviner 
teaeher  than  peace,  saying— 

".\s  the  wild  tempest  wakes  the  slumbering  sea. 
Thou  only  teachest  all  that  man  can  be." 

•Many  are  the  memories  of  encouraging 
words  that  were  whis])ered  or  spoken  aloud  in 
hours  of  trial.  About  that  time  I  preached  a 
sermon  on  "The  True  Lath  to  Peace  ”  by  a  vig-. 
orous  ])rosecution  of  the  inevitable  war  and  by 
freedom  to  the  slaves.  It  was  re.solved  by  sev¬ 
eral  who  were  o])i)osed  to  my  view  s  that  1  shonld 
be  silenced  and  sent  out  of  the  world  with  dis¬ 
patch  if  I  i)ersisted  iu  e.\i)ressing  such  senti¬ 
ments,  and  praying  h)r  the  President  of  the 
I’nited  States.  .Vccordingly.  one  bright  Sunday 
morning  at  the  hour  1  had  a])pointed  for  services, 
a  large  crowd  gathered  in  and  around  the  little 
log  school  house  (Old  Salem).  They  were  armed 
with  shot  guns,  rifles,  revolvers,  bowie  knives 
and  heavy  canes.  They  looked  sour  and  surly. 
The  congregation  gathered  and  filled  the  house. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


If  any  of  my  friends  were  armed  1  did  not  know 
it.  Seareely  a  word  was  spoken  by  anv  one. 
'I'lie  time  eame  to  beg'in  service.  A  deatldy 
silence  rei}>;ned  as  1  took  my  seat  in  the  ])ulpit. 
lCveryl)ody  seemed  to  I)e  asking  liimself,  "W  hat 
next.''”  Jnst  tlien  a  (pnet,  conservative  man 
wlunn  1  liad  never  known  to  take  any  active  part 
in  any  meetings,  and  w  liom  1  did  iu)t  know  as 
l)eing  in  sympatliy  with  me.  walked  gently  up 
tile  aisle  and,  drawing  near,  whispered  in  my  ear; 
"Douthit,  go  on,  and  preach  and  pray  as  you  be¬ 
lieve  is  right.  'I'here  is  jilenty  of  us  to  stand  by 
you.  "  1  was  determined  to  do  that  anyhow,  and 
did  clear  my  conscience  very  well  that  day. 
.Xevertheless,  1  have  always  regarded  that  action 
of  so  modest  and  (|uiet  a  man  as  a  very  special 
lirovidence. 

.\nd  that  was  only  one  among  many  trying 
ordeals  in  which  most  humble  men  and  women 
came  to  the  front  with  an  insjiiration  of  wonder¬ 
ful  heroism  that  1  should  never  have  thought 
them  capable  of. 

TllK  L’XITARIAX  ROSITIOX  AXl)  XAMR 

I  will  now  turn  to  the  more  distinctly  I’ni- 
tarian  phase  of  my  mission  work.  .\nd  in  the 
lirst  ])lace.  as  there  is  a  very  general  misunder¬ 
standing  about  I’nitarians,  1  beg  to  state,  clear¬ 
ly  as  I  can,  jirecisely  thc'l  nitarian  position. 

I’nitarians  do  not  stand  for  a  sect,  if  by 
sect  is  meant  a  body  of  believers  who  make  as¬ 
sent  to  certain  tenets  a  condition  of  church  fel¬ 
lowship  and  co-ojicration.  'I'he  I'nitarian  de¬ 
nomination  is  not  a  sect  except  in  its  oiiiiosition 
to  all  sectarianism  in  religion.  Dr.  William 
hdlerv  Channing  was  among  the  rirst  of  distin¬ 
guished  Americans  to  take  the  name  I’nitarian. 
He  then  declared  (.\.  D.  1828,)  that  though  he 
cheerfully  took  that  name  for  good  and  honest 


reasons,  yet,  said  he:  "i  wish  to  regard  mvself 
as  belonging,  not  to  a  sect,  but  to  the  communitv 
of  tree  minds,  of  lovers  of  the  truth,  of  followers 
of  Christ,  both  on  eaith  and  in  heaven."  'I'his 
is  the  i)osition  of  the  I'nitarian  denomination  to¬ 
day.  It  is  a  body  of  frt-e  and  independent  Chris¬ 
tian  bcliex’ers  who  claim  no  anthorit\  to  dictate 
a  creed  or  interpret  Scripture  for  others.  I’ni¬ 
tarians  welcome  differences  held  honcstlv  in  the 
right  spirit. 

I’nitarian  churches  are  congregational  in 
their  form  of  government  :  that  is.  each  church 
is  independent  and  self-governed  :  it  is  a  democ¬ 
racy  or  republic  within  itself,  each  memher  and 
both  sexes  having  ecpial  rights  and  privileges  in 
choosing  a  pastor,  electing  officers,  adopting  a 
covenant  of  faith,  etc.  (1  say  "coveiiant,"  for  we 
convenant  to  walk  together  in  brotherly  love 
rather  than  ])rofess  to  think  alike  in  creed.)  .\11 
of  these  churches  are  not  named  I’nitarian;  and 
when  they  meet  in  conference  it  is  not  for  dicta¬ 
tion.  but  mutual  counsel  and  inspiration  and 
co-operation  in  good  works. 


Till-:  1)1 1*  l<KKKX’Ch:  lU’/rWKlAX  L’XITAR- 
l.\X  AXl)  TRIX’ITARl.W’  COX- 
(;Rh:(',.\Tl()X’.\  DUSTS. 


However,  to  avoid  misunderstanding  by 
many  ])eo])le,  it  should  be  stated  that  all  Con¬ 
gregational  churches  are  not  I’nitarian.  'I'here 
are  'I'rinitarian  Congregational  churches,  fhese 
churches  were  formed  of  peojile  who,  when  Dr. 
Channing  and  his  associates  took  the  I’nitarian 
])osition.  withdrew  from  their  fellowshi]),  insist¬ 
ing  upon  the  old  Calvinistic  creeds  of  Predesti¬ 
nation.  three  jiersons  in  the  (lodhead,  etc.  These 
are  known  as  Trinitarian  or  orthodox  Congrega- 
tionalists.  and  these  churches,  unlike  the  Uni¬ 
tarians.  do  dictate  in  their  conferences  and  in- 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


sist  upon  a  Trinitarian  creed.  l’>ut  L'nitarians 
never  did  in  tlieir  history  e.xclude  by  creed-tests 
or  church  rules  Trinitarians  or  any  other  sincere 
disci])les  of  Christ.  There  is  not  a  case  in  all 
history  of  l'nitarians  e.xcludin"-  or  persecuting;' 
others  for  o])inions'  sake.  This  was  the  marked 
difference  between  I'nitarian  and  Trinitarian 
Congre^ationalists,  althouj;h  now  with  many 
pe(Ji)le  the  difference  is  only  in  name.  Xow  the 
most  radical  l'nitarians  r)f  Dr.  Channins^'s  day 
would  find  welcome  in  nearly  all  Trinitarian 
Congrej;ational  churches. 

For  the  reason  that  l'nitarians  were  so  jeal¬ 
ous  of  their  independence  and  freedom,  and  so 
opposed  to  creed-tests,  many  of  the  churches 
stood  aloof  from  each  other  and  were  slow  to 
come  tof^ether  and  orj^anize  in  Xational  Con¬ 
ference  with  a  common  standard  of  fellowship 
and  working  basis  ;  hut  they  finally  did  unite  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  following: 

r.AXX'FR  ()!•  TllF  X'ATIOX.VL  C(  )X'- 
FKRKXCK. 

’Pile  following  Declaration  was  unanimously 
and  enthusiastically  adopted  by  the  Xational 
Conference  of  I'nitarian  and  other  Christian 
churches  at  .Saratoga,  X.  in  i8(;4: 

“'Phese  churches  accept  the  religion  of 
Jesus,  holding,  in  acconlancc  with  llis  teaching, 
that  practical  religion  is  summed  up  in  love  to 
Ciod  and  love  to  man.” 

W'hile  it  is  a  fact  that  most  memhers  of 
I'nitarian  churches  “are  distinguished,”  as  Dr. 
Channing  .said,  “by  believing  that  there  is  one 
Ciod,  even  the  leather,  and  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
not  this  one  ('.od,  hut  llis  de])cndent  and  obed¬ 
ient  son.”  \et  nevertheless  all  memhers  are  free 
to  receive  or  reject  this  belief :  they  are  welcome 
to  believe  (if  the\'  must  to  he  honest)  that  Jesus 


was 

the 

identical 

Jehovah,  and 

that 

there 

are 

three 

|)ersons  in  the 

God- 

head. 

or 

any  other  doctrine. 

L'nitar- 

ians 

will 

have  no 

contention  or 

division 

on  these  |)oints.  'Phey  res])cct  honest  convic¬ 
tions:  they  stand  for  the  utmost  tolerance  so 
long  as  the  life  is  right:  they  stand  for  a  church 
with  the  door  wide  as  the  door  to  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  :  for  full  freedom  of  thought  to  all 
honest  seekers  after  Ciod's  truth  and  for  cheer¬ 
ful  co-operation  in  works  of  righteousness  with 
all  good  ])eople.  ever\ where.  “In  every  nation 
he  that  feareth  Ciod  and  worketh  righteousness 
is  acce])ted  with  Him.”  ('.-\cts.  x:35).  and  shall 
he  with  us. 

Rut  as  has  lieen  truly  said:  "W'e  Unitar¬ 
ians  are  not  so  eager  to  make  ]K‘ople  call  them¬ 
selves  by  onr  name  as  we  are  to  imi)art  some¬ 
thing  of  the  spirit — this  Holy  .Spirit  of  all 
truth.  W'e  know  nothing  of  creed-tests  or  name- 
tests.  Whoever  loves  and  lives  our  ideals  of  rea¬ 
son.  fellowshi])  and  service  better  than  we.  is 
our  teacher,  whatever  church  or  age  he  belongs 
to.” 

It  was  because,  as  1  ha\e  said,  that  I  nitar- 
ians  were  the  onlv  religious  body  1  found  on 
earth  that  woidd  welcome  me  to  such  freedom 
and  nmversal  fellowshi)).  that  I  received  ordina- 
tion  at  their  hands  :  and  u])oh  that  basis  I  have 
been  laboring  as  a  missionary  nearly  forty 
years. 

ORHvCT  ()I<  "THF  .\MFR1C.\X  I'X'ITAR- 
l.\X  .\Sv8()CI.\TI(  )X.” 

I'or  most  of  this  time  I  have  labored  under 
the  au.si)ices  of  the  .\mcrican  I'nitarian  .\sso- 
ciation.  Roston.  Mass.  ’Phis  .\ssociation  was 
founded  in  1825.  Dr.  C.annett,  (Dr.  Channing's 
colleague),  who  was  the  first  secretary  of  the 


79 


ins  TORIC  SKli  Tcn. 


Association,  tlius  describes  tlic  motive  of  its 
founders  ; 

■■'I'lic  American  L’mtarian  Association  liad 
its  oriin'in  not  in  a  sectarian  i)nri)ose,  but  in  a 
desire  to  promote  tlie  increase  of  religion  in 
the  land.  .  .  .  'I'lie  name  which  was  adojjted  has 
a  sectarian  si)nnd.  lint  it  was  chosen  to  avoid 
etiuivocation  on  the  one  hand,  and  misa])pre- 
hension  on  the  other." 

'Pile  object  of  this  Association  as  declared 
in  its  l>y-Lavvs.  .Art.  i,  is  "to  diffuse  the  knowl¬ 
edge  and  j)romote  the  interests  of  ])ure  Chris¬ 
tianity."  'Phat  is  just  what  1  have  been  trying 
to  do  all  these  years. 

W  Idle  the  name  C'hristian  is  dearer  to  us 
than  Cnitarian,  yet,  being  only  one  class  among 
so  many  classes  of  Christians,  we  dare  not  as¬ 
sume  'd  mono])oly  of  that  name  :  we  do  not  elaim 
to  be  Christian  ])ar  excellence.  lUit  in  order 
to  show  our  colors  and  stand  by  them,  we  must 
have  a  name — it  is  the  only  way  to  do  honest 
business:  and  we  take  the  name  I'nitarian  be¬ 
cause  in  the  course  of  history  it  has  come  to 
signify,  more  than  any  other  word,  our  great 
])rincii)les  of  Cnity  and  our  purpose  and  aim, 
namely  :  To  unite  with  all  people  who  will  unite 
with  us, 

"To  build  the  Universal  Church. 

Lofty  as  is  the  love  of  (jod. 

.\nd  am])le  as  the  wants  of  man." 

— Tvongfellow. 

"  L'  X I T  A  R I .  \  X  "  ST  I'  M  r,  L 1  X  G- 1 5  L( )  C  K  S . 

llowever.  it  should  be  said  that  L’nitarians 
have  no  jiatent  right  on  the  name.  Individuals 
and  societies  may  ap])ro])riate  and  use.  or  rather 
misuse  the  name  in  a  way  to  greatly  iirejudice 
good  ])eoi)le  against  the  ])rincii)les  and  purjioses 
of  the  Unitarian  body  ])ro])er.  Persons  may 


call  themselves  Unitarian  or  "Liberals"  who  are 
merely  indifferent  about  religion — jierhaps  never 
identifying  themselves  with  any  church,  but 
tramp  around  from  one  church  to  another  or 
stay  away  from  public  worshi])  to  play  poker, 
visit  or  entertain  visitors  or  do  an\thing  else 
they  please,  instead  of  attending  to  religious 
duties.  1  must  sa}’,  that  such  jiersons  have  been 
greater  stumbling-blocks  in  my  mission  work 
than  all  other  sinners  combined  :  and  the  more 
respectable  and  inHuential  such  "Unitarians" 
are,  the  wor.se  their  influence  for  building  uj)  ;i 
ehurch  and  promoting  the  cause  of  pure  Chris¬ 
tianity.  If  such  ])ersous  were  the  only  de])end- 
ence.  there  could  be  no  Unitarian  church  anv- 
w  here  :  nor  any  other  sort  of  chureh  for  that 
matter.  'Phe  true  church  must  have  members 
who  are  willing  to  be  martyrs  for  it  against  all 
the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil. 

(  )ne  of  the  most  mortifying  exj)eriences  of 
my  life  was  when  ]  went  to  a  new  railroad  town 
of  several  thousand  inhabitants  and  incpiired  of 
the  Postmaster  if  he  knew  any  I’nitarians  liv¬ 
ing  there.  “I  know  only  one  man  w'ho  calls 
himself  Unitarian,"  was  the  reply;  and  when  I 
asked  where  1  should  find  that  one,  1  was  told 
he  ke])t  a  saloon.  ( )n  further  impiiry  in  that 
same  town  1  found  another  man — a  leading 
business  man — who  claimed  to  be  a  Unitarian 
or  "Liberal,”  and  he  never  went  to  church,  he 
.said,  e.xce])t  to  hear  the  greatest  ])reachers  in 
the  laiul.  He  said  he  ccjuld  learn  more  to  stay 
at  home  and  read  than  he  could  to  listen  to  the 
ordinary  i)reacher.  'Phe  idea  seems  never  to 
have  entered  his  brain  that  he  should  go  to 
church  for  the  e.xample  of  it.  and  the  good  it 
might  do  others,  and  that  the  best  ])art  of 
church-going  is  not  in  learning  some  ‘“new 
thing"  but  in  the  habit  of  as.sociating  with  our 
fellows  in  a  way  to  (luicken  and  strengthen  each 


So 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


other  ill  wliat  we  already  know  to  lie  true  and’ 
,«oo(l.  As  a  rule,  with  very  rare  exceptions,  the 
man  or  tlie  woman  who  ^^ets  in  the  habit  of 
stayins^'  away  from  regular  worship  with  his  fel¬ 
lows  grows  worse  himself  and  of  course  sets  a 
dangerous  examiile  to  others.  So  in  the  ease 
of  the  business  man  referred  to.  1  met  him  by 
chance  thirty  years  after,  and  was  startled  to 
hud  him  a  miserable  wreck  of  his  former  self — 
a  degenerate  son  of  noble  Puritan  stock.  I  know- 
whole  communities  that  have  been  made  worse 
by  a  similar  misuse  of  freedom. 

"There  are  two  freedom.s — the  false,  where 
a  man  is  free  to  do  what  he  likes:  the  true,  where 
a  man  is  free  to  do  what  he  ought,"  says 
Charles  Kingsley.  'I'he  last  is  the  only  freedom 
to  which  I'nitarians  or  liberal  Christians  are 
called. 

k  1-:  1  ‘ R  ivs b: X 'r. \ 'n  \  ic  i •  x  i  r a  k  i . \  x s. 

I’nitarians,  like  any  other  class  of  believers, 
can  only  be  fairly  judged  by  their  united  dec¬ 
laration  of  faith,  and  also  by  their  truly  repre¬ 
sentative  and  faithful  men  and  women.  'I'hese 
include  manv  of  the  highest  and  best  in  the 
world's  intelligence  and  action,  such  as  several 
of  the  Fathers  of  onr  Republic,  like  h'ranklin, 
.Madison  and  the  .\damses:  and.  also  such  edu¬ 
cators  as  Horace  Mann,  the  founder  of  our  com¬ 
mon  school  system:  John  Pounds,  founder  of 
Ragged  Schools:  .Xoah  Worcester,  founder  of 
Peace  Societies:  such  scientists  as  Darwin  and 
.\gassiz  :  such  poets  as  Longfello\'-,  Dowell.  Pry- 
ant  and  Holmes :  such  historians  as  Prescott. 
Pancroft,  .Sparks  and  Parkman  :  such  statesirien 
as  Webster,  Sumner,  Morrill  and  Hoar:  such 
])hilanthro])ists  as  I'lorence  .Xigbtengale,  Dor¬ 
othy  Dix  and  Clara  Parton  :  such  authors,  sages 
and  saints  as  the  Channings  :  as  hjneison,  Pel- 


lows,  James  Freeman  Clarke.  Robert  Collyer 
and  Jvlward  Everett  Hale:  such  writers  as 
Louisa  Mav  .MccUt.  author  of  "Little  W Omen"  : 
and  such  h\nm  writers  as  Julia  Ward  Howe, 
author  of  "Pattle  Hymn  of  the  Rei)ublic,"  Sarah 
hdower  .\<lams,  author  of  "Xearer  My  (lod  to 
Thee."  and  Sir  John  Powring,  author  of  "In 
the  Cross  of  Christ  I  Cilor\-." 

Such  characters  are  the  best  representa- 
ti^■es  of  the  I'nitarian  faith,  name  and  move¬ 
ment. 

Till'.  PECHXXIXf'.  .\T  L()('.  CHCRCIl. 

.\fter  graduating  at  Meadville.  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  my  missionary  work  under  the  name 
I'lntarian,  was  at  old  Log  Church,  on  the  road 
a  mile  south  of  Middlesw orth  station  and  about 
a  half  mile  from  Jordan  Chapel.  Log  Church 
was  built  b\-  the  Paptists.  (  Predestinarian ) 
nearlv  bo  vears  ago.  on  a  spot  close  to  where 
W’illis  Manning  now  lives,  three  miles  east  of 
Shelb\  ville,  and  when  the  survey  of  the  railway 
(then  called  the  I ndianai)olis  and  St.  Louis  line) 
was  made,  it  ran  against  this  meeting  house. 
So  the  house  was  moved  to  the  ])lace  above 
mentioned.  It  was  built  of  great  hewn  logs,  hav¬ 
ing  enough  timber  in  it.  if  siuved,  for  two  or 
three  houses  of  its  size.  (23  feet  sciuare.)  .\fter 
being  removed,  it  was  " wcather-lioarded,'  so 
that  the  logs  could  not  be  seen  except  on  the 
inside.  It  became  nntit  for  ])nblic  meetings  a 
dozen  vears  ago.  and  is  now  serving  as  a  stable 
on  Mr.  Jesse  Parker's  farm.  Py  an  unexpected 
turn,  this  Log  Church  came  into  hands  favor¬ 
able  to  mv  mission,  (one  of  the  trustees  being 
a  Catholic),  though  the  remnant  of  Pai>tist.s 
were  still  allowed  to  use  it.  Here  my  wife  and 
1  (lid  our  mission  work  for  the  years  i(Sb7-S-(y 

(flic  Sunday  morning — or  rather  afternoon 


HIS  TORIC  SKli  TCI  I. 


— after  two  of  tlie  i)reaeliers  li:i<l  i)reache(l  an 
hour  and  a  half  or  two  hours  eaeli.  and  had  de¬ 
nounced  Sunday  schools,  and  new-fangled  col¬ 
lege  preachers  (meaning  me.  largely).  I  arose, 
and  announced  a  meeting  the  next  Sunday  for 
the  organization  of  a  Sunday  school.  'I'he  novel 
announcement  created  a  sensation  ;  and  there 
was  a  crowd  on  hand  the  next  Sunday,  mostly 
children  of  Irish  laborers  working  on  the  rail¬ 
road.  (now  ‘‘l’)ig  Four").  We  had  a  crowded 
Sunday  .sch<K)l.  'I'hen  my  wife  started  a  suh- 
scri])tion  school,  and  liad  a  houseful,  the  greater 
numher  being  Irish  Catholic  children.  I  held 
meetings  every  night  for  several  weeks.  'I'he  old 
house  was  crammed  and  jammed  and  running 
over  with  ])eople.  Ihit  it  could  stand  the  ])res- 
sure. 

'I'he  crowd  that  gathered  at  the  Sunday 
school  hour  did  not  all  come  from  religious  mo¬ 
tives.  Sometimes  a  few  of  them  came  to  settle 
(|uarrels  that  had  begun  at  a  dance  or  at  the 
race.  ( )nce,  in  Sunday  school,  while  1  was  ex¬ 
pounding  the  r.eatitudes,  a  rough  man  who  was 

fired  with  drink,  rose,  and  said,  "'J'hat’s  a  - 

lie."  'I'hen  he  said  he  had  come  there  to  whip 
the  abolition  preacher  and  he  was  going  t(j  do 
it  right  away,  and  started  toward  me.  lint  sev¬ 
eral  stout  Irish  and  American  hoys  clinched 
him,  held  him  fast  and  carried  him  tcj  his  horse, 
l)ut  him  astride,  and  on  his  promise  of  good  be¬ 
havior  he  was  allowed  ti)  go  his  way.  'I'hen  we. 
called  all  the  scared  and  scattered  crowd  hack 
to  the  church  and  "sang  with  the  s])irit  and  un¬ 
derstanding"  the  temi)erance  song,  one  of  a  few 
we  knew  how  to  sing ; 

"W'ine  is  a  mocker,  strong  drink  is  raging." 

Alv  wife  and  1,  w  ith  our  two  older  children, 
were  then  living  in  a  little  sh:.nty  about  ten  feet 
by  twelve,  which  was  afterward  used  as  a  hen 
house.  ^\  e  tried  to  live  on  wliat  she  earned  bv 


teaching  and  by  my  cultivating  a  garden  and  20 
acres  of  land.  'I'he  whole  community,  except 
the  Catholics,  were  "dead  set"  against  paying  a 
preacher  anything.  'I’hey  had  always  been 
taught  by  baptist  ( "  1  1  ardshell" )  preachers  that 
it  was  wrong  to  jiay  for  iireaching,  and  all  the 
more  so  if  the  preacher  was  "eddicated"  at  a 
theological  school,  and  a  temiierance  "fanatic" 
who  tried  to  interfere  with  divine  decrees  b_\- 
teaching  little  children  religion.  A  foreigner, 
however,  who  became  a  regular  attendant  at  my 
meetings,  came  to  me  one  day,  and  said:  "1 
do  not  see  how  you  live  without  any  pay  for 
your  jiretiching.  Come  down  to  my  house,  and 
1  will  give  you  a  little  sweetening  to  help  along." 
lie  ,ga\e  me  a  big  jug  of  sorghum  molasses. 
'1  hat  was  my  first  year's  salary  as  a  preacher  in 
this  mission.  '1  he  next  year  1  received  $5  from  the 
jieople  to  whom  1  preached.  'I'hen  an  old  her¬ 
mit  who  hailed  from  Xovia  Scotia  and  who  was 
inclined  to  scoff  at  rtdigion  said;  "I  find  that 
since  these  meetings  begun  my  chickens  are  not 
stolen  so  much,  and  life  and  limb  are  safer.  I 
for  one  am  willing  to  chip-  in  to  help  keep  the 
thing  a-going."  .\nd  so  he  headed  a  subscrip¬ 
tion  with  Sio  and  went  with  it  to  Shelby ville  and 
got  some  more  subscribed.  'Phus  my  third 
year's  salary  was  increased  to  about  $50,  al- 
tlrough  my  wife  made  much  more  even  then 
raising  chickens  and  turkeys,  than  I  did  jireach- 
ing. 

In  the  first  year  (uSbS)  of  my  work  at  Log 
Church,  I  began  to  itreach  in  Mattoon.  .\t  first 
the  Methodist  and  Cumberland  Presbyter¬ 
ian  churches  were  kindly  opened  for  me : 
and  then  the  public  halls.  Ral])h  Waldo 
Emerson,  the  Concord  sage,  gave  me  a 
labor  of  love  in  Unitm  Hall,  that  city,  on 
Sunday.  Dec.  15,  1868.  and  on  the  following 
Sunday,  Dec.  22. — Forefathers’  Day — L'nity 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Churcli  of  Liberal  Cliristians,  Mattoon,  was  or- 
“■anized. 

During  that  period  of  work  at  Log  Cluireli 
I  also  preaelied  at  the  sehool  houses  round 
about,  tried  to  eultivate  a  little  farm  of  20  acres 
with  fruit  and  grains,  and  edited  a  dei)artinent 
in  the  Shelbyville  I'nion,  called  "'Phe  Preaching 
Corner."  This  was.  of  course,  i)urely  a  labor 
of  l(')ve.  but  it  reciuired  the  best  part  of  two  days 
of  each  week  for  ])reparing  copy,  reading  ])roof 
and  going,  on  foot  or  horseback,  to  and  from 
Shelbyville. 

WITH  Tilh:  LOCAL  PKKSS.  LTC. 

Py  the  way,  1  may  here  say,  I  have  been 
more  or  less  a  contributor  to  the  local  press 
most  of  the  time  for  forty  years,  beginning  as 
associate  editor  of  the  Shelbv  Countv  I'reeman. 
the  first  Free  Soil  or  Re])ublican  i)a])er  started 
in  this  region  of  Illinois.  Mr.  F.  !'.  Chittenden 
was  editor-in-ehief.  That  was  in  1860-1.  The 
hreeman  did  not  live  long.  The  L'nion  was  es¬ 
tablished  in  1863  by  John  \\’.  Johnson,  lie  was 
a  sort  of  Parson  Prownlow  editor,  and  a  terror 
to  "Coi)i)erheads,"  as  the  disloyal  element  was 
called,  and  his  columns  were  alwa\s  open  for 
anything  1  wished  to  say.  Several  of  my  ser¬ 
mons  on  the  war  were  |)ublished  in  the  L’nion. 
In  1868  the  late  Cai)t.  Park  'P.  Martin,  of  Dan¬ 
ville,  Illinois,  became  editor  and.  in  part.  ])ro- 
prietor  of  the  L’nion,  and  invited  me  to  edit 
"The  Preaching  Corner"  of  three  columns,  more 
or  less.  This  I  did  for  the  year  1870:  and  I 
continued  to  contribute  often  to  the  local  ])ress. 
mostly  the  L’nion,  until  1  started  ( )ur  Pest 
W  ords  in  1880.  W  ith  a  few  rare  and  conspicu¬ 
ous  exce])tions.  I  have  always  been  treated  with 
marked  courtesy  and  even  generosity  by  the 
editorial  fraternity.  'Phe  e.xce])tions  were  dur¬ 


ing  the  Civil  war  and  in  my  first  radical  crusade 
against  the  saloon  in  politics,  and  the  "treat¬ 
ing"  custom  of  candidates  for  office.  1  will  refer 
to  this  crusade  later. 

( )RC.\XIZL\C.  L'XITARl.W  COXCLRIC 
(L\T1()XS. 

W  Idle  regarding  the  church  as  the  divinely 
ordained  organ  of  ins])iration  for  all  good 
wcjrks,  yet  the  main  object  of  my  mis¬ 
sion  has  not  been  to  make  jiroselytes 
and  increase  the  membership  of  mv 
congregation,  so  much  as  to  (piicken  all 
souls  into  newness  of  life,  urge  men  to  be  honest 
before  Cod  and  man  and  to  unite  with  all  good 
people  against  all  evil,  and  for  more  and  better 
work  for  all  mankind.  And  so.  in  the  beginning 
of  my  mission.  1  had  preached  regularly  at  old 
Salem  school  house,  near  the  late  Jacob  Sittler’s 
home,  for  a  long  time,  when  one  of  my  audi¬ 
tors.  the  late  Curtis  Hornbeck,  Esq.,  (father  of 
Rev.  Marcus  Hornbeck,  now  a  jirominent 
Methodist  minister.)  said  to  me  one  day: 
"Prother  Douthit.  you  are  the  cpieerest  ])reacher 
I  ever  knew  .  Here  you  have  been  ])rcaching  for 
two  years  and  never  once  given  any  of  us  a 
chance  to  join  church.  If  you  had.  myself  and 
wife  and  all  my  family  would  have  joined,  but 
now  it  would  be  a  little  awkward  for  us  to  do 
so,  as  we  have  joined  another  ehurch."  1  took 
'Scpiire  Hornbeck’s  words  as  a  just  rebuke  of  my 
neglect,  and  a  few  Sundays  thereafter  J  gave  an 
opportunity  for  ])eoi)le  to  join  church,  and  as  a 
result  a  Congregntion  of  Liberal  Christians  with 
eight  members  was  organized.  Sunday,  June  1. 
1868.  at  above  named  school  house.  Elder  John 
Ivllis,  named  in  another  jilace.  was  jiresent  and 
assisted.  This  was  the  first  L’nitarian  congrega¬ 
tion  in  this  region  of  Illinois.  Its  covenant  is 


‘^3 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


ill  nearly  the  same  words  as  one  of  the  first 
ehnrehes  organized  in  Xew  lui^land.  'I'liat  was 
at  v^aleni.  Mass.,  in  1629.  nearly  400  years  ajt^o, 
and  that  eovenant  was  drawn  np  by  the  pastor. 
Rev.  I'raneis  1  ligginson.  who  was  the  aneestor  of 
Col.  '1'.  \\’.  lligginson,  the  .\nti-Slavery  Re¬ 
former  and  iiopnlar  author  of  Roston. 

(  )ak  drove  Chapel  was  built  jointh'  by  I’ni- 
tarians  and  Christians.  'I'liis  was  dedieated  Sept. 
2(j.  1S70,  Rev.  Robert  Collyer.  of  L’nity  Chnreh, 
Chieago.  preaehing  the  sermon.  ( )ver  sixty 
persons  beeame  members  of  this  eongregation. 
and  there  was  a  fiourishing  union  Sunday 
sehool  in  the  Chapel  for  several  years.  I’ut  the 
members  were  mostly  young  and  poor  iieople 
and  early  moved  to  other  parts,  and  several 
died,  h'inally,  in  iSpi,  the  bulk  of  the  remain¬ 
ing  members  united  in  building  Jordan  Chapel. 
'Phis  was  dedieated  Sunday.  July  24.  1892,  Rev. 
John  11.  Ileywood  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  ])reaching 
the  sermon,  and  Rev.  'P.  1>.  P'orbush  assisting. 
1  am  jileased  to  say  that  the  Diseijiles  of  Christ, 
or  “Christian"  brethren,  hold  regular  Sunday 
services  and  are  doing  good  work  now  at  ( )ak 
('■rove  Cha])el :  and  their  church  door  is  wide 
enough  to  admit  all  sincere  followers  of  Christ 
exceiit  in  one  particular:  you  cannot  go  in,  un¬ 
less  you  go  under  water. 

ROl’.ERT  COLLVER’S  "STORY  ()E  THE 
PRAIRIE." 

(  )n  July  20.  1873,  P'nion  Church  at  the 

Jacob  Elliott  graveyard,  near  Mode,  was  dedi¬ 
cated.  Robert  Collyer  preaching  the  sermon, 
assisted  by  Rev..  W’m.  J.  Poone  (Methodist) 
and  others.  It  was  during  this  visit  that  the 
black-smith,  |)oet-i)reacher  learned  the  story  of 
John  Oliver  Reed's  remarkable  conversion. 
A  while  before  this  visit  of  IMr.  Collver,  this  man 


had  told  his  religious  experience  in  a  heart¬ 
searching  speech  to  a  wondering  crowd  at  a 
basket  meeting  at  (  )ak  Crove  Cha])el.  My  wife 
and  1  took  notes  of  that  si)eech,  and  re])orted  to 
-Mr.  Collyer  when  he  eame.  lie  made  a  sermon 
story  of  it  to  his  eongregation  in  Chicago,  and 
it  was  ])ublished  in  the  daily  pa])ers.  'Phen  the 
-Americc'in  I'nitarian  .\ssociation,  Poston,  print¬ 
ed  it  in  tract  form,  and  it  was  reprinted  in  b'ng- 
land  and  translated  into  Welsh.  Thousands  of 
co])ies  have  been  and  are  still  being  circulated 
in  .\merica  and  in  other  countries.  'Phe  traet 
is  entitled:  ".\  Story  of  the  Prairie.”  it  is  true 
to  facts  in  every  particular.  John  was  my  cousin, 
tind  tifter  his  conversion  he  told  how  once,  while 
I  was  taking  the  enolhnent  for  the  draft,  he  went 
to  one  of  my  vSunday  services  with  a  pistol  in 
his  pocket,  resolved  to  shoot  me  if  1  jireached 
\\hat  he  had  heard  1  was  in  the  habit  of  preach¬ 
ing:  but  during  the  opening  prayer  he  gave  u]) 
the  resolve  :  and  was  troubled  in  cdnscience  till 
the  great  light  and  wonderful  peace  came  to 
him. 

AT  THE  OLD  COURT  HOUSE. 

.\fter  many  years  in  the  rural  districts,  I 
made  an  appointment  for  a*  meeting  in  the  eourt 
house  at  Shelbyville.  To  say  1  was  disappointed 
in  the  first  attem])t  is  putting  it  mildly.  Xobody 
came:  only  one  man  looked  in  at  the  door,  and 
said:  "Perhaiis  Eli  come  again  after  awhile:" 
and  he  went  away.  That  fellow  lived  in  the 
country  and  had  come  to  Shelbyville  on  Satur¬ 
day.  and  got  so  drunk  he  couldn't  get  home  that 
night,  and  so  was  on  hand  to  a  small  e.xtent. 
that  Sunday  morning.  He  kee])S  sober  now. 
The  next  ap])ointment  a  few  were  jrresent.  Then 
an  old  singing  teacher,  a  Presbyterian  deacon, 
who  had  got  acxpiainted  with  me  in  the  conn- 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


try  work,  came  over  from  Marshall.  Illinois,  to 
he  a  sort  of  Sankey  for  me.  Also  an  old  Evan¬ 
gelist  of  "The  Christian  connection."  Elder  John 
Ellis,  of  Yellow  Springs.  Ohio,  came  to  help  us. 
The  crowd  increased,  and  we  held  meetings 
every  night  for  eight  weeks.  The  result  of  this 
“protracted"  effort  was  a  church  of  seventy-five 
members  of  the  unchurched,  and  mostly  of  Shel- 
byvdle,  with  some  of  the  county  officers.  Many 
had  been  hard  drinkers.  ( )ne  hail  been  a  saloon 
keeper  for  forty  years,  and  he  was  my  faithful 
friend  and  helper  till  his  death.  This  First  Con¬ 
gregational  Church.  Shelhyville.  Illinois,  was  or¬ 
ganized  that  same  year.  (1^75.)  and  a  church 
edifice  costing  $6,000  was  built  and  paid  for 
within  a  year.  It  was  dedicated  May  8.  1876.  by 
Revs.  James  Freeman  Clarke.  Dr.  \\’.  C.  Eliot. 
F.  L.  Ilosmer.  and  the  Jewish  Rahhi.  Sonnen- 
schein. 

ELDER  JOHN  ELLIS  AXD  JACOR. 
SMITH. 

In  writing  this  story  I  should  feel  that  1 
was  ungrateful  not  to  sjieak  of  the  assistance 
of  Elder  John  Ellis,  of  Yellow  S])rings.  ( )hio. 
a  trustee  and  agent  of  .Antioch  College,  founded 
by  Horace  Alann.  Elder  Ellis  was  a  liberal 
Evangelist  of  the  “Christian"  order.  He  be¬ 
came  interested  in  my  work  in  the  year  1868.  and 
from  that  time  to  the  close  of  the  first  i)rotracted 
meeting  in  the  old  Court  House,  he  was  with 
me  freciuently.  He  hel])ed  in  the  gathering  of 
congregations  at  ( )ak  Drove.  Alode.  Sylvan,  and 
other  ])oints  in  the  county.  He  died  a  few  years 
since  at  the  age  of  80.  His  wife,  a  ])hysician  and 
worthy  relative  of  General  M  .  T.  Sherman,  is 
still  living,  and  has  ])uhlished  her  husband's 
auto-biography,  in  which  he  speaks  only  too 
kindlv  of  me  and  mv  labors.  Elder  Ellis  was 


a  remarkable  man  in  some  respects — a  melod¬ 
ious  singer  and  a  very  persuasive  preacher  in 
his  prime,  and  the  author  of  some  sweet  songs, 
notably  "The  \\  bite  Pilgrim."  I  have  seen 
audiences  melted  to  tears  at  his  singing  that 
.song.  He  was  at  one  time  editor  of  the  Herald 
of  Gospel  Liberty,  the  oldest  religious  paper 
published  in  America.  lint  he  was  mostlv  a 
])ilgrim  for  60  years,  walking  to  his  appoint¬ 
ments.  much  of  the  time,  with  staff  in  hand,  till 
he  droi)|)ed  suddenly  in  the  harness. 

During  the  years  of  my  ])reaching  at  Oak 
Grove.  Mode.  Sylvan.  Mt.  Carmel  and  the  old 
Cotirt  House,  and  in  the  earlv  meetings  at 
Lithia  Springs.  Jacob  Smith,  a  iK)|)idar  singing 
school  teacher,  gave  me  valuable  labors  of  love. 
He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Marshall.  Illinois:  hut  was  a  most  loyal  friend, 
.sang  with  his  whole  mind  and  soul  and  taught 
others  to  sing  in  my  meetings  from  the  time  we 
first  met.  about  1869.  till  the  Father  called  him 
home  a  while  ago. 

LOCDEST  C.\LL  TO  PREACH— S.VLARY 
OR  XO  SALARY. 

W  bile  most  of  my  labors  have  been  in  this 
county  of  Shelby,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the 
(  )kaw.  yet  in  the  early  years  I  preached  in  the 
towns  along  the  line  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail¬ 
road.  main  trunk  and  branch,  from  Decatur  and 
Champaign  southward  to  Centraiia.  and  also  on 
the  Indianapolis.  Terre  Haute,  .\lton  and  St. 
Louis  line,  from  Charleston  in  Eastern  Illinois, 
to  Litchfield  on  the  west.  Then  the  managers 
of  the  above  roads  kindly  gave  me  free  passage 
as  a  missionary.  (  P>y  the  way.  the  president  of  the 
last  named  road  in  those  years,  was  a  member 
of  Dr.  Eliot's  congregation.  St.  Louis,  and  the 
father  of  Rev.  Robert  Moore,  who  was  ordained 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


to  the  ministry  at  the  same  time  and  place  with 
me,  the  sainted  Dr.  llosmer  layini>'  a  hand  on 
each  of  onr  lieads  at  once,  whUe  he  made  the 
ordaining  prayer — tlic  most  impressive  prayer  1 
ever  heard). 

During  the  first  few  years  of  my  charge  in 
Shelbyville,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Dr.  E.  E. 
Hale  and  others,  I  tried  to  act  as  state  mission¬ 
ary  for  Illinois,  but  there  was  not  enough  of  me 
to  spread  over  so  much  ground  effectively ;  and 
in  fact  I  felt  a  stronger  call  to  preach  to  the 
people  that  would  gather  to  hear  me  in  the 
school  houses  and  out  door  meetings  in  the  vi¬ 
cinity  of  my  birth  place,  though  certainly  money 
was  never  an  element  of  strength  to  this  call. 
I>y  the  money  test,  I  had  much  stronger  calls. 
I  was  offered  a  lucrative  position  under  Lin¬ 
coln's  administration,  and  also  under  Grant’s.  I 
have  had  chances  for  four  times  more  salary  than 
ever  I  received  from  the  people  to  whom  I  have 
ministered.  But  I  have  no  regrets  on  that  score; 
I  am  happy  in  the  faith  that  what  some  may  call 
my  losses  in  time  and  money  have  not  been 
wasted,  but  planted  to  grow  and  bear  blessed 
fruit  for  my  chidren’s  children,  and  my  neigh¬ 
bors’  children,  when  my  body  is  dust. 

This  Home  Mission  has  been  to  me  a  high 
calling  of  God.  Necessity  has  been  laid  upon 
me.  I  have  by  invitation  preached  in  many 
churches  in  the  larger  cities  of  the  Nation,  such 
as  Chicago,  Boston.  Cleveland,  Toledo.  Colum¬ 
bus.  Cincinnati.  Indianapolis.  Detroit.  .Ann 
Arbor,  Aiilwaukee.  Alton,  Jacksonville.  St. 
Louis,  Louisville,  New  (Orleans  and  other  cities. 
1  have  had  governors  of  states,  senators,  presi¬ 
dents  of  universities,  and  many  of  the  most  dis¬ 
tinguished  and  saintly  jicrsons  for  auditors ;  I 
have  sometimes  received  $50  for  a  single  ser¬ 
vice.  I  have  thus  been  honored  and  compensated 
much  more  highly  than  I  deserved  ;  and  yet,  I 


can  truly  say,  I  have  never  anywhere  nor  at  any 
time  felt  more  honored  before  God  than  in 
preaching  to  Irish  Catholics  and  other  neigh¬ 
bors  at  Log  Church;  and  never  have  felt  so  loud 
a  call  anywhere  as  at  such  places  as  the  old 
whisky-haunted  Court  House  in  Shelbyville, 
though  I  might  not  get  a  peanut  for  it. 

THE  BLUE  RIBBON  CRUSADE. 

The  Blue  Ribbon  Crusade  began  with 
meetings  in  the  court  house,  and  then  the  meet¬ 
ings  were  moved  to  our  new  church.  Every 
member  of  my  congregation  took  the  pledge  of 
total  abstinence.  Then  the  meetings  were  mov¬ 
ed  to  the  Christian  church,  the  largest  audience 
room  in  town  ;  and  for  forty-two  nights  in  suc¬ 
cession  we  held  crowded  meetings,  until  nearly 
every  man  and  woman  of  Shelbyville  and  vicin¬ 
ity  was  wearing  a  blue  ribbon.  At  the  close  of 
those  meetings  I  was  prostrate  for  six  weeks.  I 
lay  at  death's  door,  the  doctor  and  friends 
thought. 

A  lady  physician,  Aliss  Dr.  Petrie,  from 
New  York  state,  happened  in  town,  and  learn¬ 
ing  of  my  case,  kindly  came  to  see  me  as  I  lay 
helpless.  She  looked  at  me  and  said  with  solemn 
emphasis:  “I  have  a  message  from  heaven  for 
you.  You  think  you’ll  die,  but  you  wont.  But 
if  you  do  not  stop  so  much  speaking  night  after 
night  and  other  work  you  will  become  a  miser¬ 
able  chronic  wreck,  and  useless  the  rest  of  your 
life.”  That  message  deeply  impressed  me.  I 
took  the  advice.  I  wish  I  knew  the  address  to¬ 
day  of  that  good  messenger  so  that  I  might 
express  to  her  my  gratitude  for  the  timely,  wise 
warning  that  has  helped  me  to  keep  my  frail 
body  in  fair  working  condition  for  over  twenty 
years  longer  than  expected. 


86 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


PERILOUS  WAR  AGAINST  THE  TREAT¬ 
ING  CUSTOM. 

When  partly  recovered  from  that  long 
prostration,  I  began  a  war  against  the  snares 
and  stumbling  blocks  in  the  way  of  those  who 
had  taken  the  pledge  and  joined  the  church  in 
an  effort  to  reform.  There  was  the  open  door 
of  the  licensed  dram-shop,  and  the  corrupt  poli¬ 
tics  in  the  treating  custom  of  partisan  bosses 
and  candidates  for  office.  This  custom  was  so 
deeply  rooted  and  of  such  long  standing  that 
the  majority  of  voters  in  both  parties  regarded 
it  as  a  fixed  institution.  “Of  course,  no  man 
can  be  elected  to  office  in  this  county  unless  he 
sets  up  the  drinks  freely.  You  have  got  to  do 
it  or  be  beaten.”  That  was  the  stereotyped  re¬ 
ply  of  political  bosses  and  candidates  when  I  be¬ 
gan  to  plead  with  them  privately  not  to  do  so. 
Even  some  members  of  my  own  congregation 
would  insist  that  they  had  to  do  it,  and  persisted 
in  face  of  my  solemn  protest.  Witnessing  as  I 
had  for  a  lifetime  the  misery  and  ruin  in  the 
home  and  the  corruption  in  public  service  caus¬ 
ed  by  this  mischievous  custom.  I  deliberately 
and  solemnly  determined  to  stop  it  or  die  in  the 
attempt,  and  I  saw  no  more  effective  method 
than  to  publicly  expose  through  Our  Rest 
Words  every  clearly-known  case  of  a  candidate 
setting  up  drinks  in  electioneering  for  office.  I 
gave  warning  by  stating  publicly  that  I  would 
publish  the  name  of  any  and  all  candidates  that 
treated  voters  to  liquor.  It  was  done.  Rut  it 
was  the  most  painful  ordeal  of  all  my  life.  I 
had  more  mud  and  printers'  ink  thrown  on  me, 
got  more  curses  and  was  threatened  with  more 
personal  violence  than  in  any  other  period  of  my 
life. 

The  saloon  was  in  politics,  and  I  had  en¬ 
listed  for  the  war  to  drive  it  out.  ’  Neither  of  the 


political  parties  would  tackle  the  giant,  nor 
whisper  a  word  against  it  in  their  platforms  or 
party  organs.  Finally,  by  the  help  of  Mrs.  Ada 
H.  Kepley,  of  Effingham  county,  (a  member  of 
my  Shelby ville  congregationj  and  about  a  dozen 
Free  Methodists,  we  organized  at  the  Court 
House,  May  29,  1886,  the  Prohibition  party.  It 
was  a  most  troublous  and  costly  business  for 
me.  ]\Iy  salary  was  cut  down  one-half.  Some 
friends  at  home  and  abroad  turned  away.  IMy 
printing  press  would  probably  have  been  burned, 
but  for  the  fact  that  it  was  in  a  third  story  where 
fire  could  not  consume  it  without  putting  a 
whole  block  in  ashes.  During  this  time  my 
wife  came  near  being  killed  while  at  work  in  her 
kitchen,  by  a  woman  crazed  with  drink,  whom 
we  had  befriended,  taken  into  church,  and  were 
trying  to  reform.  Dirty  papers,  among  which 
was  the  Police  Gazette  of  New  York  City,  pub¬ 
lished  caricatures  of  this  incident  that  created  a 
sensation  all  over  the  country. 

The  battle  went  on  till  the  snake  was 
scotched  if  not  killed  ;  so  that  it  has  been  since 
possible  for  a  few  men  to  be  elected  to  office  in 
Shelby  county  who  do  not  bribe  voters  with 
liquor.  Saloons  were  driven  out  of  Shelbyville, 
and  my  printing  office  was  moved  into  the  room 
on  the  corner  of  the  public  square  where  one  of 
the  largest  saloons  had  been  kept.  Our  Best 
Words  had  become  a  weekly  with  the  largest 
circulation  of  any  paper  in  the  county,  and  by 
a  combination  with  the  Farmers’  Mutual  Benefit 
Association  and  similar  movements,  we  came 
very  near  electing  at  one  time  an  Anti-saloon 
ticket  in  the  county.  But  my  meddling  in  “the 
filthv  ])ool  of  politics,"  (in  an  effort  to  purify  it), 
had  brought  me  into  disfavor  with  some  of  the 
directors  of  our  Missionary  Board:  they  disap- 
l)rovcd  of  my  editing  Our  Best  Words,  though 
I  doubt  if  eve'r  they  read  it  carefully.  I  was 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


worn  out  and  lying  under  the  Juniper  tree  when 
a  stranger  came  to  me  with  a  tempting  price  to 
buy  my  paper,  and  I  sold  out,  but  with  the  dis¬ 
tinct  understanding  that"  Our  Best  Words  would 
he  continued  in  the  same  line  of  battle.  1  was 
deceived.  Jt  soon  became  an  organ  of  the 
Populists,  and  after  two  years,  that  is  in  Octo¬ 
ber,  1894,  1  bought  back  the  name,  Our  Best 
Words,  and  began  again  to  publish  it. 

UXIT.\R1.\X  PRirCXDS  I X  XEED— CII.AX- 
CELLOR  ELIOTS  EXCOUR.AGE- 
MEXT. 

In  the  crusade  against  the  saloon.  I  was 
warmly  supported  by  Revs.  J.  T.  Sunderland, 
Jenk.  LI.  Jones.  Wm.  C.  Gannett;  also  Dr. 
J.  11.  .Allen,  of  Harvard  University:  and  also 
by  Dr.  Wm.  G.  Eliot,  Chancellor  of  Washington 
University,  St.  Louis,  and  some  members  of  his 
congregation,  the  Church  of  the  Messiah.  The 
late  Hon.  George  Partridge  of  that  church  visit¬ 
ed  me  and  gave  lectures  on  his  travels  in  the 
Holy  Land  :  and  he  and  Mrs.  James  Smith  gave 
liberally  to  the  Shelbyville  church,  the  parson¬ 
age.  and  Our  Best  Words. 

Chancellor  Eliot  was  my  wise  and  fatherly 
advisor  and  helper  in  this  mission  for  nearly  25 
years  before  he  was  translated.  I  remember 
once  going  to  him,  cast  down  and  almost  per¬ 
suaded  to  abandon  the  mission — the  supi)ort 
had  so  fallen  off  and  my  congregations  grown 
small.  “.Are  you  sure.”  inquired  the  Chancel¬ 
lor,  “that  vou  are  pleading  for  the  highest  stand¬ 
ard  of  public  morals  and  purest  conduct  in  pri¬ 
vate  life?”  I  replied  :  “I  have  been  trying  my  best 
to  do  that,  and  that  seems  what  has  caused  ])eo- 
ple  to  turn  away  from  me.”  “\’’ery  well,  then,” 
said  the  Chancellor,  “stoick,  and  don't  worry ! 
Be  of  good  courage!  A'ou  shalk  be  supported. 


The  Unitarian  mission  stands  for  better  character 
and  better  quality  of  work — rather  than  for 
quantity,  or  a  great  following.  Only  do  your 
part  well,  and  leave  results  to  God.” 

The  dear  old  saint  kept  his  promise  to  me, 
and  1  have  since  then  been  trying  harder  than 
ever  to  act  according  to  his  counsel,  however 
heavy  the  cross,  sometimes. 

S-MXTLY  UXIT.ARLAX  ERIEXDS  AND 
CO-WORKERS. 

1  can  never  be  grateful  enough  to  the  Giver 
of  all  Good  for  the  hosts  of  noble,  saintly  men 
and  women — some  of  them  of  world-wide  fame 
— of  the  Unitarian  household  whose  prayerful 
interest  and  friendshii)  have  been  to  me  inspira¬ 
tion  and  strength  in  the  most  trying  work  of 
this  mission.  Most  of  them  have  resided  too 
far  away  to  ever  visit  here  except  in  spirit. 
They  are  too  numerous  to  mention.  However, 
besides  those  referred  to  in  other  parts  "of  this 
history,  I  make  room  to  name  Miss  Dorothy 
Dix,  the  American  lady  philanthropist ;  Drs.  A. 
A.  Livermore  and  George  L.  Cary,  Presidents 
of  Aleadville  Theological  School;  Prof.  Fred¬ 
erick  Hindekoper  and  his  wife;  Drs.  James 
Freeman  Clarke,  Henry  W.  Foote  and  Edward 
Everett  Hale,  and  President  Wm.  H.  Baldwin, 
of  Boston,  Mass. ;  Hon.  John  D.  Long,  Rev. 
John  H.  Hey  wood.  Mr.  A.  G.  Munn,  Mr.  H.  S. 
Sears,  Mrs.  L.  J.  Tilton  and  Rev.  Dr.  A.  P.  Put¬ 
nam.  In  a  generous  effort  to  strengthen  my 
hands  when  they  were  almost  ready  to  fall,  Dr. 
Putnam  gave  that  very  kind  sketch  of  my  life 
published  by  Damrell  &  Upham,  Old  Corner 
Book  Store,  Boston,  1888.  Though  feeling 
painfully  undeserving  such  kindly  notice,  yet  I 
must  confess  that  the  showers  of  brotherly  and 
sisterly  sympathy  which  came  to  me  from  the 


88 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


appreciative  readers  of  that  story  caused  me  to 
put  on  a  new  courag'e  in  a  time  of  loneliness  and 
sore  trial. 

And  members  of  the  Massachusetts  Evan¬ 
gelical  Society  (Rev.  James  De  Nomandie  is 
secretary)  have  often  caused  me  to  thank  God 
and  take  courage  during  the  struggle  to  hold 
services  at  the  Springs. 

BROIHERLY  KINDNESS  OF  LOCAL 
PASTORS. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  kindness  and  cordial 
co-operation  of  the  Methodist  brethren.  And  I 
rejoice  in  the  remembrance  of  equally  pleasant 
relations  with  most  preachers  of  the  various 
sects,  and  also  Catholic  priests,  with  whom  T 
have  come  in  contact  in  this  mission  ;  though  a 
few  preachers  have  been  extremely  shy  of  me 
and  warned  their  flocks  against  my  “dangerous 
doctrines.”  and  one  or  two  were  noted  for  making 
imprecatory  prayers  against  me.  even  as  late  as 
my  crusade  against  the  treating  custom  of  can¬ 
didates.  About  the  first  local  ])astor  to  sub¬ 
scribe  and  insist  on  paying  for  Our  Pest  W  ords, 
was  a  Catholic  priest,  and  some  of  my  best 
friends  and  helpers  have  been  members  of  that 
church.  In  the  early  years  of  my  .\nti-Slaverv 
work,  the  Ihiited  r)rethren  were  most  loyal 
allies,  as  the  Free  Methodist  brethren  have  been 
in  mv  later  crusade  against  the  liquor  traffic  and 
kindred  evils.  The  Christian  church,  Shelby- 
villc,  was  often  granted  me  for  religious  services 
over  25  vears  ago.  when  many  houses  of  wor¬ 
ship  in  the  county  were  closed  against  me.  The 
late  Elder  lUishrod  W.  Henry  was  ])astor  of  that 
congregation  for  several  years.  He  performed 
the  marriage  ceremony  for  my  parents,  and  al¬ 
ways  seemed  glad  to  favor  their  son.  In  the 
most  painful  crisis  of  the  local  fight  against  the 


liquor  evil.  Rev.  P>.  F.  Patt  of  the  Paptist  church, 
Shelbyville  then,  (later  of  Columbus,  Ohio),  and 
Rev.  W.  J.  Frazer,  the  Presbyterian  pastor,  now 
of  Prazil,  Ind.,  stood  by  me  most  brotherly, 
bravely  defending  me  publicly  at  the  risk  of  of¬ 
fending  influential  members  of  their  congrega¬ 
tions.  1  do  not  wish  to  go  to  any  heaven  where 
such  souls  do  not  go.  it  would  surprise  some 
l)eoplc  if  they  should  be  told  how  much  some 
of  these  pastors  have  helped  to  circulate  Gur 
Pest  Words. 

WH.VT  OUR  PEST  WORDS  IS 
HERE  FOR. 

Our  Pest  Words  is  devoted  to  Temperance 
Reform.  True  Education  and  the  spread  of  Pure 
and  Practical  Religion.  It  seeks  to  cultivate  a 
sjiirit  of  Unity  and  Protherhood  among  all  sects, 
parties,  classes  and  races. 

In  recent  years  it  has  given  special  atten¬ 
tion  to  Lithia  Springs  Assembly  and  Chautau¬ 
qua  work.  Our  Pest  Words  is  purely  a  mission¬ 
ary  i^apcr,  published  and  edited  from  the  first 
as  a  labor  of  love  and  good  will  to  everybody. 
It  was  born  to  speak  the  sinq)le  truth,  and  noth¬ 
ing  but  the  truth,  and  to  say  the  word  most 
needed  to  be  said,  or  die  trying.  For  twenty 
years  jiast  in  connection  with  Our  Pest  Words, 
by  the  assistance  of  mv  family,  we  have  carried 
on  a  Post  Office  mission  and  circulated  thous¬ 
ands  of  tracts,  etc.,  in  an  endeavor  to  Christian¬ 
ize  liberals  and  liberalize  Christians. 

THE  STRUGGLE  AT  LITHIA  SPRINGS 
PEGINS. 

[Meantime,  the  battle  had  begun  at  Lithia 
Springs,  two  miles  north  of  where  the  work 
began  at  Log  Church,  over  thirty  years  ago. 


89 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


These  springs  were  in  an  out-of-the-way  place, 
no  pnl)lic  road  l)eing  nearer  than  a  mile.  They 
were  in  a  glen  surrounded  hy  a  dense,  wild 
forest  amidst  rough  hills  and  gorges.  They  were 
not  protected  by  any  enclosure,  and  the  neigh¬ 
bors  and  their  cattle  for  miles  around  came 
there  for  water.  The  water  from  earliest  time 
was  believed  to  be  of  rare  medicinal  value  by 
those  who  drank  it,  though  the  springs  were  not 
widely  known  until  within  a  dozen  years. 

The  si)ot  had  been  fcjr  a  long  time  a  den 
for  the  drinking  and  lawless  element.  I  first 
tried  to  hold  Sunday  services  there  about  fifteen 
years  ago.  Kev.  J.  T.  Sunderland,  then  West¬ 
ern  Unitarian  Missionary  Secretary,  assisted  me 
in  one  of  the  first  meetings,  and  we  had  some 
old  logs  and  the  grass  for  seats.  Then  Dr.  I>enj. 
iMills,  Presbyterian  i)astor  at  Shelbyville  said : 
‘Tlrother  Douthit,  I  will  come  with  my  congre¬ 
gation  and  help  you  for  one  Sunday,”  and  so 
they  did  ;  but  Satan  came  also  with  a  wagon  load 
of  fire  water  and  set  up  his  stand  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  our  pulpit.  This  was  a  big  log 
close  by  the  springs.  The  liquor  sellers  were 
arrested  and  convicted,  and  left  the  country  to 
escape  paying  their  fine. 

A  COURT  TRIAL  BESIDE  THE  SPRINGS. 

I  was  permitted  to  somewhat  control  the 
grounds  for  three  or  four  years  before  I  owned 
the  land.  As  showing  the  obstacles  to  be  over¬ 
come  because  of  prejudice  and  long  standing 
custom.  I  will  relate  another  case  in  point : 

The  only  road  to  the  springs  ran  counter- 
cornered  across  the  land,  fas  it  had  run  for 
aught  I  know  since  the  Indians  made  the  trail) ; 
and,  strange  to  say,  a  majority  of  the  township 
commissioners  actually  insisted  that  it  must 
continue  to  go  that  way  instead  of  on  the  section 


line.  They  claimed  that  for  the  convenience  of 
the  public  the  road  must  run  so  as  to  include  the 
springs ;  that  the  owner  of  the  land  had  no  right 
to  enclose  and  control  that  water.  It  should  be 
outside  and  free  as  air  to  all  people  and  their 
cattle,  at  all  times — certainly  no  temperance 
crank  should  be  allowed  to  control  it.  This 
would  interfere  with  ‘'personal  liberty.”  But 
the  case  went  to  the  courts.  Einally,  the  board 
of  supervisors  (the  county  legislature;  appointed 
James  Dazey,  John  Eunk  and  Michael  Work¬ 
man,  of  its  members,  as  a  jury,  (or  court)  before 
which  the  case  should  be  tried.  The  court  was 
assembled  and  seated  on  old  logs  about  the 
springs.  Many  people  were  present.  Hon.  Geo. 
D.  Chafee,  my  most  faithful  friend  from  the  be¬ 
ginning,  was  attorney  for  the  owner  of  the  land, 
and  Col.  L.  B.  Stephenson,  now  of  St.  Louis, 
for  the  road  commissioners.  After  eloquent 
pleading  the  verdict  was  that  the  springs  might 
be  enclosed  and  the  road  must  be  changed  to  the 
section  line  on  the  east. 

TO  REFORM  THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY. 

Fourth  of  July  celebrations  had  come  to  be 
largely  occasions  for  drawing  patronage  to  dram 
sho])s.  1  determined  that  our  Nation's  birthday 
should  be  kept  in  Shelby  county  a  safe  distance 
from  those  plague  spots.  Therefore,  I  invited 
all  the  lodges  of  the  Farmers’  Mutual  Benefit 
Association,  and  everybody  else  to  a  free  Fourth 
of  July  Picnic  at  Lithia  Springs,  and  there  was  a 
mighty  response.  The  papers  reported  ten 
thousand  people  present.  The  next  Fouth  of 
Julv  I  felt  obliged  to  charge  a  gate  fee  of  five 
cents.  The  third  year  the  admission  fee  was  15 
cents  to  pay  incidental  expenses  of  orators,  etc., 
and  there  were  about  one  thousand  present. 
Chaplain  (now  Bishop)  C.  C.  McCabe  was  the 


90 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


orator.  He  was  pleased  with  mv  effort  to  re¬ 
form  tlie  Fourth  of  July,  and  when  I  paid  him 
what  1  had  agreed  to,  he  handed  back  to  me  a 
large  part  of  the  money,  saying;  “My  dear  fel¬ 
low,  1  want  to  help  you  in  this  work.”  Then  he 
suggested  that  1  establish  at  the  springs  inter¬ 
partisan  and  inter-denominational  Assemblies.  I 
thanked  him  and  said  that  was  just  what  I 
wanted,  and  he  promised  to  help  all  he  could, 
lie  has  well  kept  his  promise.  And  the  Good 
Father  of  all  has  sent  many  other  such  gracious 
friends.  * 

HALLOWED  GROUNDS. 

Soon  after  that  the  land  with  the  springs 
came  into  my  possession — the  first  .land  I  ever 
owned.  My  father  had  owned  it  from  nearly 
the  time  the  Indians  left.  It  was  the  dearest 
spot  on  earth  to  me.  because  it  was  land  over 
which  my  mother  had  held  up  tenderly  my  baby 
feet  when  she  gathered  sap  from  the  maple 
trees  around  the  sjwings.  to  make  the  yearly 
supply  of  sugar ;  and  when  I  unexpectedly  came 
to  control  the  land  I  craved  to  live  long  enough 
to  see  it  consecrated  forever  as  Holy  Ground — 
made  too  pure  to  ever  again  tolerate  in  any 
form  the  demon  that  had  so  distressed  my 
mother,  stung  to  death  so  many  of  my  kindred 
and  ruined  so  many  homes  round  about. 

And  to  effect  this  object  I  had  good  reason 
for  believing  T  must  begin  then,  or  perhaps 
never.  But  the  grounds  were  wild,  uncultivated 
and  unfenced.  They  were  covered  with  woods 
and  dense  undergrowth,  and  the  springs  were 
bubbling  up  through  marshv  black  mud — only 
one  had  an  old  whisky  barrel  for  a  curb.  There 
was  no  shelter — no  auditorium  for  mecting.s — 
nothing  but  the  blue  heavens  above.  T  had  no 
money,  no  income — not  even  a  living  salary. 


But  there  were  the  springs,  in  a  most  pictur¬ 
esque  and  lovely  spot.  It  is  the  testimonv  of  all. 
including  many  of  wide  experience,  that  the 
place  is  an  ideal  one  for  camp-meetings  and 
Chautauqua  purposes,  having  beautiful  scenery, 
being  dry  and  well  drained,  healthful,  free  from 
mosquitoes  and  far  away  from  the  vicious  in¬ 
fluences  of  a  city — a  quiet,  happy  vallev  with 
water  e(|ual  to  any  in  the  country  for  medicinal 
and  health-giving  qualities. 

Nearly,  if  not  quite,  every  plant,  tree  and 
dower  that  grows  in  the  .Mississippi  valley  may 
be  found  about  these  springs.  And  ITof.  Lean- 
der  S.  Keyser,  the  popular  author  on  ornithol¬ 
ogy,  who  spent  a  week  on  the  grounds,  says 
there  are  probably  200  varieties  of  birds  here 
during  the  year ;  and  during  the  ten  years  they 
have  been  specially  protected  and  undisturbed 
on  the  grounds,  so  that  they  have  increased  in 
number  and  grown  remarkably  tame.  So  that 
1  am  sure  it  would  make  iMr.  Angell,  editor 
of  Our  Dumb  Animals,  happy  to  see  and  hear 
them. 

TRIED  AND  TRUE  ALLIES  IN  THE 
HEAT  OF  THE  BATTLE. 

In  order  to  hold  public  meetings  till  I  might 
see  the  grounds  consecrated  to  holiest  uses 
while  I  lived.  I  did  contrary  to  the  rule  of  my 
life :  borrowed  money,  giving  a  mortgage  on  the 
land.  The  farmers  and  carpenters  of  the  vicin¬ 
ity  joined  in  and  helped  me  build  the  great 
shed,  called  “the  tabernacle.”  for  an  auditorium. 
But  the  springs  must  be  walled,  roads  must  be 
made,  the  underbrush  cleared  away,  some  cot¬ 
tages  built,  etc.,  etc.  The  gate  receipts  did  not 
on  the  whole  pay  expenses,  though  all  help  and 
talent  were  prom])tly  paid.  The  burden  of  debt 
at  7  per  cent,  grew,  though  some  people  in  their 


91 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


ignorance  said  the  Assemblies  were  a  money¬ 
making  scheme.  I  had  tempting  offers  to  sell, 
if  1  would  not  require  a  clause  m  the  deed  of 
transfer  i)rohil)iting  licpior  traffic  on  the  ground. 
And  three  years  ago  1  had  an  offer  for  the  land 
on  my  own  terms ;  but  dear  friends  lead  by 
John  (j.  Woolley  and  Col.  1).  C.  Smith,  plead 
with  me  to  hold  on,  and  proffered  me  financial 
ease  for  another  year.  .\nd  so  they  did  for  the 
next  year,  till  finally  1  felt  it  my  duty  ])ositively 
to  decline  further  aid  in  that  way.  1  determined 
to  s(|uare  up  all  debts  by  selling  everything  if 
necessary.  *  *  *  lint  1  am 

spared  this  necessity.  X’ictory  is  nigh.  And 
who  have  helped  to  this  victory?  Their  num¬ 
ber  is  greater  than  can  be  named  here. 

.\mong  the  many  noble  and  widely  known 
men  and  women  who  have  been  from  first  to 
last  generous  co-workers  in  the  effort  to  estab¬ 
lish  this  Chautauqua,  are:  Hx.-Gov.  John  P. 
St.  John,  INIrs.  Clara  C.  Hoffman,  P)ishop  C.  C. 
McCabe,  Capt.  D.  II.  Harts,  John  C.  WooUey, 
Dr.  John  S.  Cook,  Rev.  (h.  W.  Stewart,  Hon. 
Hale  Johnson,  IMrs.  Leonora  AI.  Lake,  Rev.  W. 
J.  Frazer,  Col.  D.  C.  Smith,  Looker  T.  Wash¬ 
ington,  Rev.  Sam  P.  Jones  and  Col.  John  So- 
bieski,  the  last  named  for  the  last  nine  succes¬ 
sive  years.  Put  for  these  and  such  as  these,  this 
effort  must  have  ceased  six  years  ago.  During 
the  first  years  Elder  W.  H.  Boles.  Col.  James 
Felter,  Mrs.  Helen  i\L  Cougar,  Mrs.  S.  E.  V. 
Emery,  iMiss  Henrietta  G.  Moore.  ?^Iiss  Lily 
Runals.  and  iMrs.  Daisy  H.  Carlock,  the  last 
named  of  saintly  memory,  were  self-sacrificing 
helpers.  Among  our  list  of  benefactors  in  late 
efforts  are  Commander  Ballington  Booth,  Mrs. 
Eliza  T.  Sunderland,  Montaville  Flowers,  Airs. 
Eva  AI.  Smith,  Rev.  Dr.  George  AL  Brown,  Rev. 
W.  W.  Fenn,  Ex-Congressman  George  E. 


Adams,  Air.  X.  ( ).  Xelson,  Dr.  C.  Elwood  Nash, 
Prof.  Eugene  IDavenport,  Prof.  George  E.  Vhn- 
cent.  Rev.  Dr.  IL  L.  ICaton,  Prof.  AI.  S.  Calvin, 
Col.  George  W.  Bain.  Prof.  H.  H.  Barber,  Revs. 
.\lbert  Lazemby,  Fred  Hawley,  Chas.  E.  St. 
John  and  F.  C.  Southworth ;  and  a  multitude 
more  never  to  be  forgotten  for  their  kindly, 
helpful  service.  I  should  like  to  mention  the 
names  of  more  than  a  thousand  at  home  and 
abroad,  who.  by  neighborly  sympathy  and  gen¬ 
erous  service,  have  helped  to  keep  this  Chautau¬ 
qua  alive.  1  can  not  name  any  without  seeming 
to  slight  many.  But  I  am  proud  tcj  refer  to  the 
fifty  or  more  persons  of  our  general  and  local 
.\dvisory  Board  as  representatives  of  hundreds 
of  others  equally  deserving  mention  in  this  con¬ 
nection. 

From  the  first  effort,  about  ten  years  ago, 
to  celebrate  Independence  Day  at  Lithia  away 
from  the  saloon,  we  have  had  the  support  of 
Judges  Thornton  and  Aioulton,  two  of  the  old¬ 
est  and  most  honored  citizens  of  the  state ;  and 
later  years,  of  Judge  Truman  E.  Ames.  One  or 
the  other  of  these  gentlemen  has  acted  as  Mas¬ 
ter  of  Ceremonies  nearly  every  Fourth  of  July 
since  the  second  year  from  the  beginning,  when 
Judge  Thornton  presided  and  Chaplain  AIcCabe 
told  his  story  of  the  Sunny  Side  of  Life  in  Libby 
Prison. 

Frances  E.  Willard  has  been  a  patron  saint 
of  this  mission  for  nearly  fifteen  years.  She 
seemed  to  have  a  special  interest  in  Our  Best 
Words  and  the  mission  work  since  the  first  and 
only  time  she  visited  Shelbyville,  near  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  her  wonderful  career.  It  so  hai)pen- 
ed  at  that  visit  that  I  was  the  only  minister  to  be 
on  the  platform  with  her.  She  frequently  there¬ 
after  cheered  me  with  letters  exi)ressing  hearty 


92 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


sympathy  and  God  speed  for  ( )iir  Best  W'ords 
and  the  Asseml)lies. 

P'rom  the  Ijeg^inning  of  our  meetings  at 
Lithia  Springs  the  pastors  of  tlie  various 
churches  (both  Catholic  and  I’rotestant)  of  Shel- 
byville  and  vicinity  have  been  constant,  lirotlierly 
and  prayerful  co-workers  with  scarcely  an  ex¬ 
ception,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection. 

Besides  the  distinguished  ])er.sons  above 
named,  the  following  speakers  of  world-wide 
fame  have  also  addressed  these  Assemblies: 
iMrs.  ]Mary  T.  Lathrop.  T.  DeW’itt  Talmage, 
Hon.  George  R.  W'endling,  Mrs.  Plelen  M. 
Barker,  Henry  Watterson,  Senator  W  in.  E. 
Mason,  lion.  W  in.  J.  Bryan.  Hon.  John  Temple 
Graves,  Bishop  B.  W\  Arnett,  Mrs.  Maude  I’al- 
lington  Booth,  Senator  J.  P.  Dollivcr  and  Con¬ 
gressman  Jerry  Simpson.  Col.  Sobieski.  in  his 
Life  Reminiscences  says:  “Probably  there  is 
no  Assembly  in  the  West  that  in  so  short  a 
period  has  had  so  much  eminent  talent.” 

LITPHA  CHAUTArOUA  AS  IT  HAS 
GROWN  TO  BE. 

And  so  at  last,  despite  of  many  drawbacks 
and  pecuniary  losses,  the  success  of  this  Chau¬ 
tauqua  in  gaining  public  favor  and  a  reputation 
National  in  extent,  and  with  a  constant  healthy 
growth  toward  the  ideal  aimed  at,  has  been 
beyond  my  most  sanguine  e.xpectations.  Look 
at  the  facts,  then  and  now ! 

Beginning  with  a  dozen  tents  and  a  few 
hundred  patrons  for  a  week  the  first  year,  with 
a  mountain  of  prejudice  to  overcome,  the  annual 
campers  and  patrons  have  steadily  increased 
from  year  to  year,  till  for  the  last  two  or  three 
summers  there  has  been  an  average  of  150  tents, 
nearly  1000  campers,  and  500  to  3000  people  in 
dailv  attendance  for  20  davs.  Thev  have  come 


from  near  and  far.  They  have  come  from  a 
dozen  different  states.  One  of  these  last  years, 
as  has  been  said,  "for  the  nineteen  days  there 
was  an  average  of  fifteen  hundred  people  daily ; 
and  it  is  the  uniform  testimony  of  experienced 
observers  that  there  were  never  before  in  this 
])art  of  Illinois  so  large  a  number  of  intelligent, 
kindly  disposed  and  well-bred  men  and  women 
of  all  sects,  all  parties  and  classes,  brought  to¬ 
gether  for  such  a  length  of  time,  and  with  such 
harmony  of  spirit  and  purpose.” 

These  assemblies  have  drawn  good  people 
of  all  sorts  of  ideas  together,  so  that  they  have 
learned  more  of  each  other,  and  come  to  under¬ 
stand  each  other  better.  It  is  a  common  re¬ 
mark  that  these  assemblies  have  killed  more 
bigotry  and  prejudice  than  any  other  institution 
in  the  country.  People  of  all  churches  and  of 
no  church,  have  worshiped  together,  talked 
and  conferred  together  under  these  two  mot¬ 
toes  : 

“No  North,  no  South,  no  East,  no  West, 
but  one  Grand  L'nidn  and  one  Flag;”  and, 

"In  the  love  of  truth  and  in  the  spirit  of 
Jesus  Christ  we  unite  for  the  worship  of  God 
and  the  service  of  man.” 

Here  has  been  a  parliament  of  religions ;  a 
convention  for  fair  play  to  all ;  a  peoples'  univer¬ 
sity  ;  a  school  for  good  citizenship  and  social 
purity ;  a  school  of  health  and  good  behavior ; 
in  short,  a  federation  of  men  and  women  to  cul¬ 
tivate  the  art  of  making  happy  homes  and  mak¬ 
ing  the  most  and  best  of  each  other  and  of 
everything  that  the  good  God  gives  us. 

HOPEFUL  OUTLOOK. 

Therefore,  while  I  look  over  these  forty 
vears  of  missionary  effort  with  a  sorrowful  sense 
of  disappointment  and  failure  in  much  that  I 


95 


}IIS  TONIC  SKE  TCH. 


had  hoped  for  and  have  tried  to  be  and  do,  yet, 
nevertlieless,  1  do  greatly  rejoice  that  what  1 
prayed  and  sacrificed  most  for  has  been  in 
part  realized,  though  at  a  place  and  in  a  way  1 
never  dreamed  of  in  the  beginmng. 

And  now  in  the  first  year  of  this  century, 
on  the  motion  .of  great  souls  like  Dr.  Edward 
H.  Hale,  and  by  the  generous  response  of  noble 
friends,  the  plan  is  now,  (Jan.  20,  1901),  nearly 
consummated  whereby  200  acres  of  Lithia 
Springs  ground,  and  the  licpior  traffic  prohibited 
on  the  premises,  is  to  be  given  forever  and  de¬ 
voted  to  this  great  Chautauqua  work,  if  the  peo¬ 
ple  want  it  enough,  and  1  am  ha])py  in  believing 


they  do,  to  give  the  institution  their  united  sup¬ 
port  in  the  future  as  they  have  done  in  the  past. 

r>ut  even  if  the  crowds  should  henceforth 
turn  away,  the  healing  fountains  at  Lithia  cease 
to  flow,  and  the  glad  carols  of  birds  be  hushed 
forever,  I  shall  ever  be  most  profoundly 
thankful  to  God  for  the  multitude  of  friendly 
hands  that  have  been  reached  out  to  me ;  and 
thankful,  too,  for  being  permitted  to  live  to  see 
so  manv  sober,  happy  people  assembled  on  that 
loved  spot  where  they  have  caught  higher  ideals 
that  shall  surely  be  more  fully  realized  some¬ 
where,  sometime. 


GEORGE  D.  CHAFEE. 


c 


\ 


A  SKETCH  OF  THE  BAR  OF  SHELBY  COUNTY. 


By  HONORABLE  GEORGE  D.  CHAFEE. 


(IIAPTEH  IX. 


I  liave  l)een  reciuested,  by  the  Wilder  com- 
l)anv.  to  furnish  for  their  History  of  Shell)}' 
County,  a  sketch  of  the  Shelby  County  liar. 

This  is  largely  biography,  as  a  matter  of 
course.  Xo  perfect  biography  has  ever  yet  been 
written,  and  I  doubt  if  one  ever  will  be  written. 
The  memorable  life  and  adventures  of  Tristan 
Shandy,  a  fictitious  character  of  Dean  Swift,  and 
Hoswell’s  Life  of  Johnson,  perhaps  come  nearer 
being  perfect  biographies  than  any  that  have 
ever  been  read.  The  difficulty  in  ])reparing  a 
C(jmplete  biography,  lies  in  the  impossibility  of 
getting  accurate  facts,  and  absolute  want  of  any 
record  of  the  most  interesting  events,  and  the 
impossibility  of  telling  truthfully,  the  most  in¬ 
teresting  things  that  occur  in  a  man's  life-time. 
\  ery  few  ])ersons  keep  any  memoranda  of  cur¬ 
rent  events,  and  even  if  they  did.  the  memoranda 
would  be  but  the  dry  bones  of  the  real  body  and 
beauty  of  the  event,  and  are  usually  kept,  if  kept 
at  all,  to  refresh  the  recollection  of  the  person 
making  the  notes.  The  history  of  Shelby  Coun¬ 
ty.  or  any  other  County,  cannot  be  given  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  crystallize  the  ten  thousand  most 
interesting  events  that  have  happened.  The 
things  that  interest  peo])le  most  in  their  daily 
life,  and  of  which  they  would  afterwards  t'’ke 
pleasure  in  being  reminded,  are  ephemeral  and 
transitory,  and  a  week  or  a  month  after  they 
hap])en.  they  are  forgotten. 

The  acts  for  which  a  man  deserves  i)raise  by- 


hi;,  friends,  may  be  the  very  acts  which  his 
enemies  would  censure.  Any  act  m  this  world 
to  be  adjudged  u])on.  has  more  than  one  side, 
and  the  ])erson  himself  is  the  only  one  who  can 
understand  the  reasons  and  motives  for  the  act. 
Human  judgment  is  defective,  and  human  ])as- 
sions  arc  not  good  criterions  by  which  to  decide 
the  actions  of  a  man's  life ;  yet,  these  are  the  only 
sources  which  the  public  have,  to  sit  in  judgment 
on  the  life  and  character  of  others.  W  e  see  onlv 
occasional  land-marks  or  head-lands,  as  we  sail 
over  Life's  ( )cean.  and  the  intervening  space, 
with  all  its  rocks  and  shoals  of  toil,  jileasure  and 
.sorrow,  is  lost  to  us.  In  the  biography  of  the 
Savior  of  Mankind,  we  have  His  birth.  His  Flight 
to  Kgyi)t.  His  ajijiearance  in  the  temple  when 
twelve  years  of  age,  1  lis  temptation  in  the  wil¬ 
derness.  His  three  years  of  teaching  the  discijiles, 
and  His  tragic  death.  perfect  page,  covering 
thirty-three  years  of  the  most  remark.ible  life 
the  world  has  known. 

So  the  story  of  the  members  of  the  .Shelbv 
County  Har  must  necessarily  be  brief.  \'ery 
little  is  known  of  them.  com])ared  with  what 
each  has  done.  \'ery  much  that  each  has  per¬ 
formed,  would  be  of  no  interest  to  any  one ; 
while  much  that  each  has  performed  might  be 
of  interest  to  those  who  come  after  them,  to  point 
a  moral  or  adorn  a  tale.  The  work  of  every  good 
lawyer  is  chiefly  in  his  office,  the  business  of  his 
clients ;  the  circumstances,  their  troubles  and 
sorrows,  their  aims  and  hopes  are  all  ])rofessional 
secrets.  The  public  judge  of  wbat  they  hear, 
either  correctlv  or  incorrectlv.  from  the  result 


95 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


of  tile  trials.  The  history  of  the  county,  so  far 
as  its  liar  is  concerned,  inehules  many  names  of 
])ersons  whose  services  have  been,  for  some  rea¬ 
son,  so  brief  that  little  is  known  of  them,  and 
of  course,  little  can  be  said.  The  fact  that  no 
e.xtended  account  of  such  a])])earance  is  given 
in  this  comiiendinm.  in  no  way  reflects  upon  the 
life  and  character  of  any  one  whose  name  is  so 
briefly  mentioned.  It  simply  indicates  that  no 
facts  have  been  gleaned  niion  which  a  more  ex¬ 
tended  biograiihy  might  be  written. 

IK  fXOR.Al’.LK  \VM.  .A.  RICl  l.AR  DS(  )X 

was  once  a  lawyer  of  this  city,  but  soon  immi¬ 
grated  from  here  to  Onincy,  and  afterwards,  be¬ 
came  I’nited  States  Senator.  President  Knchan- 
an  made  him  governor  of  Nebraska  in  i860. 

DANIEL  ('.RE(R)RV 

was  a  lawyer  here  from  1835  to  1852.  W  hen  he 
was  appointed  receiver  of  the  Land  ( )ffice.  he 
removed  to  X'andalia.  He  was  brother  to  M.  1). 
('iregory,  who  lived  at  Moulton  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  also  brother  of  Allan  (Gregory, 
who  was  credited  with  being  the  originator  of 
the  Chicago  stock-yards.  Perhaps  the  next  old¬ 
est  lawyer  in  Shelby  County  was 

MORRIS  R.  CHEW'. 

who  came  here  in  about  the  year  1850.  He  was 
father  of  the  Honorable  W  ni.  Chew,  and  grand¬ 
father  of  W  in.  H.  Chew,  both  of  whom  will  be 
mentioned  hereafter.  .A  man  named 

ED.  E\  EY 

also  practiced  law  here  a  year  or  two.  and  then 
removed  to  California.  He  has  relatives  living 
near  Tower  Hill.  Another  lawyer  who  lived 
here  a  short  time,  was 


JOSEPH  C.  C.ANNON, 

who  afterwards  moved  to  Douglas  county,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  Congress  in  that  District 
for  the  last  20  years. 

W'M.  H.  REED 

also  located  here  in  i860,  and  in  conjunction 
with  Win.  J.  Henry,  jireiiared  a  book,  the  first 
Illinois  Digest,  which  for  several  years  was  the 
only  digest  of  Illinois  rejiorts  in  use  in  the  state. 
He  died  soon  after  the  book  was  completed. 

ANTHONY  T.  HALL, 

a  nephew  of  Judge  'riiornton,  and  named  for  the 
Judge,  located  in  Shelhyville  and  went  into  jiart- 
nershi])  with  his  uncle  in  1858.  He  was  well 
educated,  a  bright,  talented  young  fellow,  (piite 
famous  for  his  ability  to  make  an  interesting 
.s]>eech.  having  all  the  fire  and  imagination  that 
was  characteristic  of  the  speeches  of  the  south¬ 
ern  people  at  that  ])eriod.  He  was  a  democrat 
and  idolized  by  tne  old  fellows  w  ho  used  to  listen 
to  his  fiery  speeches.  He  died  in  1863,  and  at  a 
Par  meeting,  to  commemorate  his  virtues.  Judge 
(jallagher,  who  jtresided  on  the  bench  at  that 
time,  among  other  things  said  of  him  :  "He  was 
the  soul  of  honor ;  I  do  not  believe  he  knew  how¬ 
to  do  a  dishonest  act.” 

As  indicatiug  the  customs  of  the  past,  I  re¬ 
late  a  circumstance  occurring  at  the  home  of 
W'm.  Middlesworth  near  Windsor.  Hall  and  1 
stopped  there  on  our  way  to  Windsor  to  try  a 
case,  and  I  was  introduced  to  Mr.  and  Airs.  Mid¬ 
dlesworth.  Air.  Aliddlesworth  at  once  invited 
us  into  the  dining-room  and  set  out  a  demijohn 
of  whisky  and  poured  out  three  glasses.  I  did 
not  drink,  so  declined.  Air.  Aliddlesworth  then 
offered  me  cherry  bounce,  then  wine,  each  of 
which  I  declined.  He  looked  at  me  in  a  queer 
way,  but  I  forgot  all  about  it.  Years  afterwards. 


96 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


after  Mr.  Middlesworth  (juit  drinkin^  entirely, 
he  told  me  he  was  never  more  mad  in  his  life, 
and  came  near  showing  me  the  door.  I  was 
entirely  void  of  such  intention  of  course. 

The  writer  remembers  Mr.  Hall  as  being  a 
genial,  whole-souled  companion,  and  though  we 
difi’ered  uijon  nearly  every  (juestion.  we  were 
e.xcellent  friends.  I  recall  clearly  the  last  time  I 
ever  saw  him.  He  was.  with  myself,  engaged  in 
a  law  suit  on  Sand  Creek.  W'e  rode  there  through 
the  woods  on  what  is  known  as  Hidden  Mill 
road,  took  our  dinners  in  a  basket,  and  cami^ed 
in  the  woods,  enjoying  it  all  as  well  as  the  law 
suit.  At  that  time  he  had  a  very  red  nose,  and 
his  friends  joined  with  me  in  having  fun  at  his 
ex])ense  on  that  subject.  Two  or  three  days 
later  this  iutlammation  develoi)ed  into  erysipelas 
and  attacked  the  brain,  causing  sudden  death. 
It  was  a  great  grief  to  his  friends,  and  had  he 
lived  a  few  vears  longer,  there  was  no  office  in 
this  democratic  county  or  district,  that  he  could 
not  have  secured. 

\VM.  J.  HENRY 

came  here  in  i860  from  Iowa.  He  was  a  remark¬ 
able  man  in  many  ways.  He  had  very  little  edu¬ 
cation.  but  he  was  a  great  student.  ])articularly 
of  law  and  theological  (piestions.  He  was  a 
])rominent  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and  a 
great  Sunday  School  worker.  He  made  his 
.Sunday  visits  to  the  various  ])arts  of  the  county 
with  a  double  object  in  view,  the  moral  of  which 
the  writer  does  not  undertake  to  i)ass  u])on.  One 
of  the  objects  was  to  establish  Sundav  Schools, 
or  aid  one  that  was  already  established,  and  the 
other  was  to  make  the  acciuaintance  of  the  citi¬ 
zens  of  that  vicinity,  jirobably  with  a  view  to  get¬ 
ting  into  business  that  might  be  m  an  incubative 
state  at  that  time ;  he  was  a  success  in  getting 
business,  and  when  he  got  it.  he  never  failed  to 


make  it  interesting'  in  his  mode  of  management, 
flc  recognized  the  well  known  fact,  that  prob- 
abl\-  every  lawyer  exj)eriences  when  making  a 
visit  to  the  country.  As  we  all  know  many  per¬ 
sons  have  legal  problems  that  they  want  solved ; 
they  think  tney  are  victims  of  a  wrong  that  some¬ 
body  has  perpetrated,  that  they  have  an  interest 
in  a  few  feet  or  a  few  acres  of  their  neighbor's 
land  across  the  line  ;  some  trouble  has  occurred 
in  the  school  district;  the  Highway  Commission¬ 
ers  have  done  either  too  much  or  too  little ;  some 
dog  has  tres])assed  on  a  neighbor's  sheej) ;  some 
domestic  trouble  exists ;  and  when  the  lawyer  is 
in  the  country,  even  though  it  be  Sunday,  a 
little  valuable  information  may  be  extracted 
without  i)ay.  While  this  information  was  being 
obtained  from  brother  Henry,  he  would  be  get¬ 
ting  a  client  and  advise  some  sort  of  a  suit  and 
at  the  same  time  be  doing  the  Lord's  work,  and 
getting  a  good  yellow  -leg  chicken  dinner. 

While  Henry  was  engaged  in  active  prac¬ 
tice,  as  before  stated,  he  also  i)repared  a  Digest 
of  the  Illinois  Re])orts,  having  his  i)artner,  ^Ir. 
Reed,  do  the  laborious  j)art  of  writing  it  out  with 
the  ])eu.  as  ty])e-writers  and  stenograi)hers  were 
then  unknown.  He  also  wrote  and  had  pub¬ 
lished  a  large  volume.  I  think  entitled  "The 
Court  and  Cross."  and  a  large  volume  entitled 
"hA'clesiastical  Law."  These  two  books  were 
])rinted  by  the  IMethodist  book  Concern,  and 
he  associated  some  M.  E.  bishoji  with  him  as 
co-editor  for  the  ])urpose  of  getting  them  into 
the  market.  The  law  book  was  an  excellent 
work,  and  is  still  authority  in  the  courts.  IMr. 
Henry  made  use  of  his  biblical  knowledge  in 
trials,  and  naturally  often  made  a  good  hit. 

I  remember  the  first  case  in  which  I  ever 
made  a  jury  si)eech.  In  the  fall  term,  i860, 
Henry  had  brought  suit  for  a  man  named  As- 
kins,  for  damages  received  in  a  fight,  in  which 


97 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


his  client  liad  one  of  his  finders  l)itten  off  hv  the 
other  fellow,  and  asked  me  to  oi)en  the  case  to 
the  jury.  1  was  fresh  from  school,  a  collefje 
where  fist-fii^hts  were  not  reffarded  as  very  gen¬ 
teel,  and  of  course  1  made  an  attack  upon  the 
immorality  and  criminality  of  the  man  who  hit 
our  man's  fuif^er  off.  Jud^^e  d'hornton  had  the 
other  side,  and  he  was  in  his  jirime  and  at  his 
best,  and  knew  Shelby  County  and  a  Shelby 
county  jury  much  better  than  1  did,  and  that 
there  was  a  very  ])ronounced  feeling,  here  aj^ainst 
men  that  they  called  "yankees,"  and  he  scored 
me  to  the  (juick  ;  he  told  them  that  I  was  a 
younj.^  man  trom  the  Xorth,  a  sort  of  a  “Xorth- 
ern  li<^ht,’'  and  had  come  down  here  to  teach 
these  .tfray-headed  old  farmers  morals  and  man¬ 
ners.  etc.  I  felt  jiretty  sore  until  Henry  made 
the  best  speech  of  his  life,  as  I  thought  then,  by 
(luotinj’’  Job  to  the  jury,  telling;  them  that  Judg'c 
'riiornton  seemed  to  take  the  same  view  of  him¬ 
self  that  one  of  Job's  friends  did,  "that  when 
he  died,  wisdom  would  die  also."  Mr.  Henry 
was  a  ])artner  of  'I'.  K.  Dove  for  several  years, 
and  it  is  fair  to  infer  that  Mr.  Dove  s^ot  all 
Henry's  points  on  the  subject  of  money-making; 
as  he  has  been  a  gfreat  success  in  that  line  since. 
Henry  died  in  Kansas  City  a  few  years  ag’o,  from 
an  accident  that  occurred  in  an  elevator.  I'rom 
what  I  know  of  his  business,  and  what  he  had 
told  me  about  the  enterjirise  he  was  eng'ag'ed  in 
there,  he  would  have  made  several  thousand 
dollars  in  a  short  time  ;  but  his  son-in-law  and 
nei)hew  who  took  charg;e  of  his  affairs  were  not 
comi)etent  to  carry  out  his  project,  and  his 
family  lost  everything;. 

HOX.  \V.  W.  HESvS 

is  another  member  of  our  liar,  who  has  ])assed 
on  several  years  ag-o.  He  came  here  in  about 
'62  or  '63,  and  w.ent  into  partnership  shortly 


after  with  the  flon.  Lloyd  I’.  Stephenson.  Mr. 
Hess  was  a  democrat,  and  was  elected  County 
Jndg;e  about  1876.  and  held  office  two  terms,  or 
until  his  death.  His  practice  was  not  extensive, 
but  he  made  a  fair  judg-e  and  aimed  to  hold  the 
scales  of  justice  level,  lie  was  married  to  the 
daug-hter  of  Dr.  Harnett,  and  his  widow  still 
resides  in  vShelby ville. 

J.  W.M.  LLOYD. 

(Jiice  of  the  l>ar  of  Shelby  County,  is  another  who 
has  passed  over  the  (meat  Divide.  He  was  born 
in  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1841.  was  educated  in 
Moultrie  county,  and  for  many  years  was  con¬ 
nected  with  the  clerk  s  office,  and  was  undoubt¬ 
edly  the  finest  ])enman  in  the  county.  He  was 
recorder  for  many  years,  and  the  books  he  wrote 
in  look  like  copper  plate.  He  was  also  engaged 
in  real  estate  business,  and  made  a  set  of  ab¬ 
stracts  of  titles  w  hich  is  still  in  use.  He  studied 
law  with  Thornton  and  Hall,  and  formed  a  ])art- 
nershi])  at  one  time  with  '1'.  Iv  .\mes.  He  was 
a  fine  business  man,  an  excellent  citizen,  and 
left  surviving  him,  a  wife  and  two  children.  His 
widow  is  the  sister  of  \\  m.  C.  Kellev,  an  attor¬ 
ney  in  this  city,  lloth  of  his  children  died  a 

short  time  after  his  death.  His  wife  still  >sur- 
vives. 

H.  S.  MOeSLR 

was  an  attorney  here  for  a  number  of  \ears.  lie 
came  here  as  a  rei)ublican,  but  changed  his  poli¬ 
tics  at  the  time  of  the  (meely  campaign,  and  was 
elected  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  for 
the  county.  He  was  a  jiretty  fair  lawyer,  noted 
for  his  ability  to  make  the  most  out  of  the  small 
lioints  in  a  law-suit,  and  had  a  jieculiar  way  of 
looking  at  the  jury  and  smiling,  with  a  smile 
that  was  child-like  and  bland,  when  he  thought 
he  made  a  point  by  some  cpiestion  or  remark.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  last  wife  being  the  sister 


98 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


of  Jeff.  Iffewster  of  this  place.  He  removed  to 
Huron,  Dakota,  at  the  time  of  the  Dakota  boom, 
with  G,  \\h  Al)el  and  others,  and  has  made  a  suc¬ 
cess  of  Ids  profession, 

\VILLI.\M  CHEW, 

lieretofore  mentioned,  was  born  in  .Martinsville, 
( ),,  in  1836,  and  his  father  removed  to  Shelby 
county  about  1850,  onto  a  farm.  .Mr.  Chew  be¬ 
came  a  farmer,  and  often  boasted  of  having*' 
jilowed  the  virgin  ])rairies  with  ox  teams.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Lutheran  L'niversity. 
Siiring-field,  Illinois,  taught  school  in  Shelby 
county,  and  studied  law  with  Moulton  Chafee, 
and  was  admitted  to  jiractice  in  1871,  He  was  a 
large  man  with  fine  address,  and  was  elected  by 
the  republicans  as  minority  representative  from 
this  county,  and  served  in  the  Legislature  with 
f  Hon.  Jas.  .\.  Connely,  and  "Long  Jones,"  of 
Jo  Daviess  County,  He  was  a  stalwart  republican 
and  always  in  favor  of  every  and  any  law,  that 
looked  toward  the  benefit  of  the  laboring  classes, 
as  he  claimed  to  have  exiierience  with  them,  and 
knew  their  virtues  and  their  rights.  He  was  a 
great  admirer  of  Robert  Hums,  and  cpioted  his 
poems  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  and  gather¬ 
ed  from  them  their  most  subtle  meaning.  He 
was  a  disci])le  of  .Mexander  Campbell,  and  was 
ever  ready  to  take  uj)  the  wea])on  of  argument 
for  the  doctrines  of  his  church,  or  the  doctrines 
of  his  party.  He  was  absolutely  honest  in  his 
business,  and  was  never  fully  apiireciated  by  a 
large  number  of  our  ])eople,  largely  on  account 
of  his  brusk  manners.  He  probably  adojited 
these  manners  from  his  early  life  with  the  Eng¬ 
lish  colony  m  the  north  part  of  the  county,  who 
were  first-class  citizens  in  their  way,  both  men 
and  women,  but  they  had  a  way,  or  habit,  of  call¬ 
ing  a  spade,  a  spade,  saying  what  they  meant 
without  any  circundocution. 


L.  Jk  STELHEXSO.X 

came  to  Shelby  county  some  time  m  '66  or  '67. 
He  was  born  m  X’irginia  and  had  been  educated 
at  the  university  founded  by  Thos.  Jefferson,  and 
like  other  young  men  of  his  time,  had  gone  into 
the  Confederate  army  and  stayed  with  it  until 
Lee's  surrender.  He  was  married  to  Kate  Gray 
and  had  a  family  of  four  girls.  iMrs.  Stephen¬ 
son  was  a  charming  hostess,  having  all  the  lovely 
([ualities  that  characterize  the  best  class  of  south¬ 
ern  women,  and  when  she  had  two  or  three  of 
her  beautiful  sisters  with  her.  which  freciuently 
occurred,  they  had  as  charming  a  home  as  one 
might  wish  to  visit.  Mr.  Stephenson  was  elect¬ 
ed  State's  .\ttorney  for  this  county,  and  held  the 
office  for  eight  years,  and  was  afterward  elected 
State  Senator  from  this  District,  and  later  re¬ 
moved  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  still  lives.  He  was 
a  ])ersevering  man,  and  had  the  faculty  of  mak¬ 
ing  money  out  of  most  anything  he  turned  his 
attention  to.  He  was  always  a  democrat,  but 
had  a  large  number  of  warm  jiersonal  rejuibli- 
can  friends,  notwithstanding  he  had  been  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  army.  It  is  under¬ 
stood  that  he  made  considerable  money  out  of 
.Mexican  mines,  and  out  of  zinc  and  lead  at  Jop¬ 
lin.  as  well  as  in  the  queensware  store  that  he 
and  his  brother  had  at  St.  Louis.  He  and 

.MR.  \VM.  r,.\U.M. 

also  a  lawyer  at  Shelbyville,  at  one  time  owned 
the  macadam  road  between  Relleville  an<l  East 
St.  Louis.  He  handled  cattle,  bought  and  sold 
land  in  Shelbv  county,  and  showed  that  brains 
was  just  as  essential  in  business  as  it  was  in  the 
law  office.  The  judge  of  our  Circuit  Court  at 
the  present  time  is  the 

HOX.  TRC.M.^X  E.  .\MES, 
who  came  to  Illinois  from  Pottsdam,  X.  Y.,  and 


99 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


settled  in  \\  indsor,  wliere  he  married  a  dau<jli- 
ter  of  Janies  Hilsalieck.  He  tauj^lit  school  m 
Windsor  and  studied  law  at  the  same  time  under 
the  direction  of  Moulton  and  Chafee,  afterwards 
s^radnatin.i^  from  the  Michij^an  Law  School  in 
1877.  In  May.  1880,  n])on  the  advice  of  Mr. 
Chafee.  he  removed  to  Shelhyville.  and  soon 
after  joined  the  democratic  ])arty  and  was  elected 
County  jndije.  Suhseciuently.  at  the  last  Judi¬ 
cial  election,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Circuit 
Jndij^es  of  this  Judicial  District.  lie  has  held 
court  in  each  of  the  nine  counties  constituting^ 
this  circuit,  and  from  the  re])orts  from  those 
counties,  he  has  iifiven  jjood  satisfaction.  He  is 
a  man  very  choice  in  his  clothes,  both  as  to  the 
(|ualitv  and  the  fit.  and  it  might  be  said  of  him. 
as  it  was  of  Judge  Chas.  Constable,  who  once 
ticcupied  this  bench  and  was  famous  for  his  im¬ 
maculate  dress,  "that  if  he  was  sentenced  to 
stay  in  jail  over  night  without  his  tooth  brush 
and  clothes  brush  and  night  shirt,  it  would  kill 
him.”  The  Judge  is  a  genial  man.  and  having 
no  fuss  with  any  body,  and  a  good  disposition, 
he  makes  friends  and  also  makes  every  man  feel 
when  he  meets  him.  that  if  he  has  a  chance,  he 
will  vote  for  him  again.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  K.  church,  and  belongs  to  the  }^lasonic  fra- 
ternitv.  He  has  one  son  who  has  about  finished 
his  course  for  a  dental  surgeon.  He  lives  on 
broad  way. 

T.  K.  DOVE 

came  from  "back  yonder."  from  Fairfield  county. 
( )..  and  like  a  large  ])art  of  their  citizens,  he  lived 
"nine  miles  on  the  jiike  from  Lancaster."  He 
was  educated  at  the  Wesleyan  University  at 
Delaware,  and  loyal  to  his  .\lnia  !Mater.  he  is 
sending  his  two  sons  to  the  same  school.  His 
boys  have  been  bicycling  through  Eurojic  during 
the  vacation  of  1900.  His  eldest  son.  Clark. 


si)ent  nearly  a  year  in  our  army  in  our  war  with 
Spain.  Mr.  Dove  came  to  Shelbyville  in  '74,  as 
Sui)erintendent  of  our  High  School.  He  had 
read  law  jirior  to  his  coming  here,  and  he  formed 
a  partnershii)  with  Win.  J.  Henry  for  a  few 
years.  He  has  found  out  that  loaning  money 
and  speculating  in  lands,  and  buying  notes  at  a 
liberal  discount,  are  more  profitable  than  the 
practice  of  law.  and  it  is  generally  understood 
that  he  has  made  more  money  in  this  way  than 
any  two  lawyers  in  ordinary  jiractice.  'I'here  is 
no  (piestion  but  that  his  aim  is  to  die  rich,  and 
if  anyone  gets  in  the  way  of  his  jirogress  they 
are  liable  to  be  run  over.  He  is  a  man  of  un¬ 
usually  good  sense,  large  ])hysi(iue.  a  jolly,  good 
fellow  and  much  liked.  He  was  toast-master  at 
the  famous  bampiet  given  on  the  occasion  of  the 
hanging  of  the  jiictures  of  Judges  Thorn¬ 
ton  and  Moulton,  in  June.  1898.  and  if 
all  that  was  said  at  that  baiupiet  had 
been  preserved.  his  name  would  have 
gone  down  to  jiosterity  in  a  halo  of  glory.  The 
political  (piestions  that  have  been  disturbing  the 
two  parties  about  the  IMnlippine  Islands,  were 
fully  settled  that  night  m  a  ])roIonged  debate,  in 
which  Judge  I’hilli])s  and  (ieneral  black  were 
for  the  keeping  of  the  Islands,  and  Judge  Eden, 
of  Sullivan,  was  determined  that  they  should  be 
let  loose  ;  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
matter  was  settled,  as  we  then  su])])osed,  per¬ 
manently,  nobody  making  any  protest,  excejjt 
Eden.  Dove  is  a  high-tariff,  hard-money  demo¬ 
crat,  and  can  give  more  and  better  reasons  for  the 
faith  that  is  in  him.  than  any  other  democrat  in 
the  county.  If  he  had  not  been  so  determined 
to  make  money,  and  had  turned  his  attention  to 
the  law  or  politics  with  the  same  energy  and 
sense  that  he  shows  in  his  business,  he  would 
have  been  a  man  of  extraordinary  |)Ower  in  these 
lines.  He  owns  thousands  of  acres  of  land,  and 


TOO 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


so  far  as  tlic  writer  is  informed,  no  l)0(ly  that 
ever  owed  him  a  del)t.  has  ever  succeeded  in  long 
evading  payment. 

Mr.  Dove's  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Alta  Clark, 
of  Columbus,  1  think,  and  was  l)eloved  by  every 
one  who  knew  her.  She  was  the  mother  of  the 
two  boys  mentioned.  Mis  second  wife  was  a 
Miss  W  illiams,  also  from  Columbus,  a  charming 
singer,  and  she  has  made  friends  of  all  with 
whom  she  has  become  accjuainted.  Mr.  Dove 
has  a  fine  home  on  Main  street  in  Shelbyville,  a 
good  librar}  of  miscellaneous  books,  and  is  a 
great  reader.  He  is  a  liberal  entertainer,  and 
when  conference  was  held  in  Shelbyville,  I’ishoj) 
McCabe,  llisho])  llowman  and  Bisluj])  Sim])son 
and  manv  others  found  royal  entertainment  and 
the  most  absolute  freedom  in  Dove's  residence. 
He  is  regarded  as  a  fiuted  pillar  in  the  M.  K. 
church,  with  a  coin  capital,  and  he  and  the 
church  stand  together  for  all  the  good  things 
that  are  going.  The  beautiful  edifice,  erected 
in  1899,  for  the  worship  of  that  congregation  in 
Shelbyville,  probably  owes  as  much  to  Doves 
bank  account,  if  not  more,  than  that  of  any  other 
man. 

W1HL1.\M  C.  KKLLKV. 

the  present  ])artner  of  H.  J.  Hamlin,  is  an  excel¬ 
lent  lawyer  and  an  excellent  man.  He  is  excep¬ 
tionally  modest ;  at  the  same  time,  in  the  trial  of 
a  law  suit,  while  he  never  tries  to  make  a  parade 
before  a  jury,  he  is  very  tenacious,  and  if  he  ad¬ 
vises  to  bring  a  suit  he  is  about  sure  to  win  it. 
His  judgment  of  the  law  is  e.xcellent,  and  he 
would  never  advise  any  one  to  get  into  a  doubt¬ 
ful  case.  He  is  as  conscientious  as  a  ])rcacher. 
and  in  a  great  many  matters,  has  far  better  judg¬ 
ment  than  many  of  them.  He  was  a  liar  candi¬ 
date  for  Circuit  Judge  from  this  county,  and  if 
he  had  been  elected,  no  lawver  in  the  district 


would  ever  have  regretted  it.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  is  a  great  reader  of  all 
kinds  of  miscellaneous  literature,  and  has  some 
remarkable  notions  upon  nearly  every  one  of  the 
occult  sciences.  He  was  educated  in  Kentucky, 
and  came  very  near  being  a  reiuiblican,  but  jirob- 
ably  he  looked  over  the  territory,  and  concluded, 
that  in  Shelby  county,  the  chances  for  the  demo¬ 
crats  were  two  to  one :  though  he  may  have  had 
some  leaning  in  that  direction  because  his  ances¬ 
tors  were  built  that  way.  Kelley  is  a  tall  man. 
he  never  teds  a  joke,  but  he  appreciates  all  that 
he  hears.  The  space  allowed  the  writer  is  not 
sufficient  to  permit  of  the  saying  of  half  of  the 
good  things  that  might  be  said  of  Judge  Kelley. 
He  is  a  ])ains-taking,  careful  and  strictly  honest 
lawyer ;  what  more  need  any  one  have  said  of 
him  ? 

H(  )X()R.\I1LK  WALTER  C.  HE.\DEX 

is  also  one  of  the  lawyers  to  the  manor  born. 
He  was  a  son  of  old  Dr.  \\  in.  Headen,  who  died 
when  W'alter  was  about  ten  years  old,  and  the 
Hon.  S.  \\  .  Moulton  took  the  little  or])han  into 
his  family,  and  he  and  Mrs.  Moulton  cared  for 
him  as  they  would  for  one  of  their  own,  had 
they  been  fortunate  enough  to  have  had  children. 
He  received  a  normal  scluiol  education  at  Xcjr- 
mal,  Illinois,  and  after  teaching  at  White  Hall, 
(ireen  County,  a  year,  he  entered  the  office  of 
Moulton  and  Chafee,  and  studied  law.  He  was 
an  exceedingly  bright  boy,  and  studied  law  with 
great  assiduity  under  the  personal  teachings  of 
Mr.  Moulton,  whom  he  always  called  uncle,  and 
when  admitted  was  taken  into  partnership,  which 
jiartnershi])  lasted  until  January  1st,  1897.  Hea¬ 
den  is  a  fine  lawyer,  a  good  pleader,  and  a  logical, 
imjiressive  talker,  and  is  able  to  take  care  of  him¬ 
self  before  court  or  jury  on  any  occasion.  His 


101 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


\ 


long  association  witli  Mr.  Moulton  has  made  him 
very  careful,  and  he  is  an  adviser  and  manager 
of  a  law  suit  of  which  any  client  may  he  proud, 
and  he  may  know  that  his  business  is  being 
safely  luindled  as  long  as  I  leaden  has  control  of 
it.  He  has  been  twice  elected  to  the  Legislature, 
and  accjuitted  himself  while  there  in  such  a  way, 
as  to  receive  the  res])ect  and  esteem  of  both 
his  i)arty  friends,  and  his  opi)onents.  He  has 
been  City  .Vttorney,  County  .Administrator,  a 
member  of  the  School  Hoard,  and  in  each  office 
has  served  his  constituency  with  marked  credit. 
He  has  a  beautiful  home  on  Xorth  I'irst  street, 
a  lovely  wife,  and  two  children  now  about 
grown.  His  wife  is  X'irginia  Harrett,  daughter 
of  .\ddison  I’arrett.  and  a  most  lovely  woman 
and  fit  help-mate  for  such  a  husband.  'I'lieir  son, 
'I'homas  Moulton,  lately  graduated,  with  honors, 
from  the  Cham])aign  Lhhversity. 

About  ten  years  ago  Air.  Moulton  made 
Mr.  1  leaden  a  gift  of  his  law  library,  which  was 
one  of  the  best  in  this  ])art  of  the  state,  to  which 
he  has  added  from  time  to  time,  so  that  he  is 
thoroughly  e(iui])])ed  with  the  tools,  as  well  as 
brains,  to  make  his  business  a  success.  He  has 
often  been  heard  to  e.\])ress  liis  gratitude  for  the 
kindness  Mr.  Aloulton  e.xtended  to  him,  and  for 
the  ])leasant  manner  in  which  the  older  members 
of  the  liar,  es])ecially  Judge  Thornton,  treated 
him  in  the  beginning  of  his  professional  career. 
Another  one  of  the  lawyers  to  the  manor  born, 
Jan.  4,  1874.  is 

CKORCF.  IIA.XCROFT  RHO.XDS. 

He  is  a  bachelor  yet,  the  only  son  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  ('1.  \V.  Rhoads.  The  doctor  was  an  edu¬ 
cated  man.  and  one  of  the  soldiers  of  1861.  Mrs. 
Rhoads  was  a  school  teacher  here  in  Shelbyville 
for  many  years,  and  both  of  these  parents  de¬ 


voted  their  time  to  the  education  of  their  bov. 
and  made  a  marked  success  of  it.  Ceorge  was 
a  graduate  in  pharmacy  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  old.  He  reads  Latin  and  h'rench  with 
ease,  writes  shorthand,  and  is  a  ])ast  master  of 
all  theological  cpiestions,  and  knows  more  about 
the  llihle,  ])robably.  than  any  man  of  his  age  in 
the  County.  He  is  a  disciple  of  the  doctrines  of 
Jno.  Kno.x  and  Jno.  Calvin,  but  while  he  is  .so 
well  informed  on  all  these  subjects,  he  is  as  fine 
a  law  student  as  ever  studied  in  an  office,  lie 
studied  law  under  Moulton,  Chafee  and  Headen, 
with  tireless  energy  and  perseverence,  mastered 
the  technicalities  and  elementary  principles,  and 
became  an  ade])t  in  the  Horn  book  ])recedents, 
and  then  Hndingjudicial  decisions  to  sup])ort  them 
His  mind  is  comprehensive  and  analytical,  and 
few  young  men  of  his  age  have  had  better  success 
for  the  amount  of  business  there  is  in  a  county 
like  ours,  than  he.  I  have  e.xpressed  the  ho])e 
of  sometime  seeing  him  elevated  to  the  jxjsition 
of  Judge;  for  1  believe  he  would  make  one  that 
would  be  an  honor  to  the  state  in  every  way. 
It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  he  is  a  young 
man  of  e.xcellent  morals,  and  habits.  The  time 
was  when  lawyers  were  very  convivial,  and  in 
the  old  times  it  was  not  an  infrecjnent  thing  for 
members  of  our  ])rofession  to  get  very  hilarious. 
'I'his  habit  (jr  peculiarity  has  ceased  to  exist 
anywhere,  and  very  few  members  of  the  I>ar  in 
Shelby  County  can  be  charged  with  any  lapses 
from  strict  sobriety.  The  fact  is,  that  business 
has  develo])ed  throughout  the  country  in  such 
a  way,  that  no  client  wants  a  felkwv  half  drunk, 
to  either  advise  him  or  manage  his  business,  or 
to  defend  him  if  charged  with  a  crime,  and  the 
liar,  as  a  rule,  have  sense  enough  not  to  take 
that  into  their  mouths  which  steals  awav  their 
judgment.  .Another  one  of  the  members  of  the 
Shelbv  Countv  liar  is 


102 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


WILLIAM  HEADEX  CHEW. 

])ics(>nt  partner  of  (L  1).  Cliafee.  He  has  not 
l)een  lonjf  enoiif^h  Ijefore  tlie  ])nl)Iie  to  he 
properly  appreciated  fcjr  what  he  is  worth,  but 
for  (juick  apprehension  of  the  legal  points,  clear, 
concise  and  logical  presentation  of  it  to  the  jury 
or  court,  or  in  making  a  post  prandial  si)eech 
Chew  has  few  e(|uals,  and  it  reejuires  no  prophet 
to  foretell  that  at  no  distant  date,  he  will  he  the 
l)eer  of  any  lawyer  at  the  l’>ar.  He  was  married 
to  a  daughter  of  Mat  Embry — Mary — in  i8y8, 
and  lives  in  a  beautiful  house  on  Morgan  street. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  He 
is  a  member  of  some  of  the  secret  societies  and 
is  held  in  high  esteem  by  them  all.  He  is  at 
jiresent  candidate  for  State's  .Attorney  on  the  re¬ 
publican  ticket  in  this  county,  and  if  he  can  man¬ 
age  to  borrow  seven  or  eight  hundred  votes 
from  his  enemies,  he  can  be  elected. 

EI’.EX  RICHARDSOX. 

.son  of  (jeo.  \\  .  Richardson,  was  born  on  a  farm 
on  Sand  Creek,  in  this  County,  and  studied  law 
under  T.  E.  .\mes.  Richardson  is  a  very  popu¬ 
lar  man.  and  a  great  hustler  for  business.  He 
has  been  Master-in-Chancery  for  several  years, 
nid  with  his  legal  Imsiness,  his  office  of  Master, 
and  a  first-class  commercial  man  in  the  way  of 
handling  cattle  and  hogs,  lands  and  iiromissory 
notes,  has  accumulated  a  very  respectable  for¬ 
tune.  He  works  on  the  ])rinci])le  of  going  after 
what  he  wants.  He  has  been  connected  with 
several  criminal  cases.  His  defense  of  .Atterber- 
ry,  who  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of  his  father, 
was  very  energetic  and  uni(|ue.  Twig  told  the 
jury  on  that  occasion,  that  .Atterberry  was  as 
good  a  man  as  ever  lived,  that  he  loved  him. 
and  he  shed  tears  cojiiously  until  the  jury  saw  fit 
to  let  the  fellow  go.  Though  not  an  advocate  for 
lynch  law,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  justice  overtook 


.\tterberry  at  Sullivan  a  short  time  afterwards, 
for  upon  the  unspoken  testimony,  and  the  fine 
scent  of  two  blood  hounds.  Atterberrv  was  cap¬ 
tured  by  a  mob  in  Sullivan  and  hung  for  an  atro¬ 
cious  crime.  The  chances  are  that  justice  was 
done  at  last,  although  in  rather  an  unjust  man¬ 
ner.  He  married  Mary  Johnson,  daughter  of 
J.  W  .  Johnson,  and  has  one  son. 

W.  ().  WALL.VCIL 

our  jiresent  State's  Attorney,  is  another  one  of 
the  Shelliy  County  boys  practicing  law  in  this 
County.  He  has  held  the  office  now  for  two 
terms,  and  his  chief  characteristic  as  a  public 
jirosecutor.  is  either  to  persuade  or  scare  a  man, 
charged  with  crime,  into  a  full  confession.  If 
he  were  guaged  by  his  success  in  this  line,  he  is 
a  iironounced  success.  The  rumor  is  that  no 
lierson  wants  to  make  a  trade  with  Wallace  if 
he  is  laboring  under  the  imjiression  that  he 
doesn't  know  how  to  look  out  for  himself  in  that 
line  of  business.  The  democratic  jiarty.  at  the 
last  primary,  seemed  to  think  that  they  wanted 
a  change,  so  \\  allace  was  retired  and 

AIR.  JAS.  K.  R.  ('.RIDER 

was  nominated  for  that  office.  Mr.  ('.rider  came 
to  Shelbyville  from  Windsor  or  near  there,  and 
is  a  well  behaved,  modest  young  lawyer,  whose 
real  merits  are  much  above  the  trade  mark 
which  the  public  had  given  him.  He  is  a  very 
much  better  lawyer  than  some  who  make  twice¬ 
rs  much  noise  as  he.  He  was  l)orn  on  a  farm 
in  1866.  near  Windsor. 

HOWLAXI)  J.  HAM  LI  X 

is  one  of  the  lawyers  in  Shelby  County  who  has. 
with  some  of  the  other  eminent  men.  made  the 
Countv  famous  for  its  excellent  I’.ar.  He  came 
from  I’ottsdam.  X.  A'.,  as  did  Judge  .\mes.  and 


103 


•  HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


taui^ht  school  in  Missouri  and  in  Windsor,  and 
while  lie  was  teachiii”'  he  studied  law  under  the 
tiUoratfe  of  Judjt;e  'riiornton  and  ('.eo.  K.  W’end- 
lin}4'.  He  practiced  in  two  or  three  jilaces  before 
swinijinj^'  his  shin<>le  in  Shelhyville  ;  he  was  law 
jiartner  of  Mr.  \\  endlinjy  and  afterwards  with 
Jud^e  'riiornton;  he  accjuired  lej^al  acinneii  from 
|udj*e  'riiornton.  and  a  tine  idea  of  elocnlioii 
from  Mr.  W’endliiiiy.  At  jiresent  he  is  the  part¬ 
ner  of  \\  .  C.  Kelley,  and  is  candidate  for  .\ttor- 
nev  (ieneral  upon  the  republican  ticket.  havin<j^ 
been  nominated  for  that  hi”ii  office  at  I’eoria, 
under  remarkable  circumstances,  lie  is  a  tine 
stumjier  and  has  made  s])eeches  all  over  the 
state,  and  staunch  friends  also,  and  when  he  was 
announced  for  that  office,  these  friends  came 
readilv  to  the  front  and  pushed  his  chances  to  the 
limit  with  an  ardor  and  a  devotion  that  did  and 
should  have  made  him  proud,  and  justly  so. 
I'or  several  years,  when  Mr.  Alti^eld  was  (iov- 
eruor,  Mr.  Hamlin  had  been  connected  with  the 
Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commissioners  as  at- 
tornev  and  advisor.  'Phis  was  jirohahly  due  to 
the  warm  frieudshii)  of  J.  W.  ’S’antis,  who  was 
Secretary  of  the  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Coni- 
uiissiou  duriiij;'  Alt^eld’s  term.  l'])()u  the  re¬ 
tirement  of  Mr.  .Mtt^eld.  and  the  formation  of 
the  new  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Coniniissiou- 
ers  under  (iovernor  'rainier.  Mr.  Hamlin  was  re- 
ajipointed  and  served  with  ^reat  eredit,  none  of 
the  last  Commission  beinj.;'  more  than  nominal 
lawyers.  In  this  way  Mr.  Hamlin  obtained  ae- 
(juaintr.nce  with  the  members  of  the  liar  and 
with  railroad  men,  and  the  g'enial  and  hai)]iy 
manner  and  jolly  lau"h,  made  him  friends  where- 
ever  he  went.  He  is  a  fine  all-ronnd  lawyer, 
bright  as  a  Damascus  blade  in  all  kytfal  matters, 
shrewd  in  his  weighing'  of  men  and  circum¬ 
stances  in  ])resenting'  his  cause  to  a  court  or  to 
a  jury,  or  to  a  public  audience.  He  will  make 


a  first-class  .\ttoiiiey  {>eneral,  and  gives  prom¬ 
ise  of  being  candidate  for  other  higher  offices; 
he  is  such  a  man  as  the  people  will  delight  to 
honor.  1  le  has  a  beautiful  home  on  North 
,l!roadwa\'.  an  acconi])lished  wife  and  beautiful 
daughter,  and  three  boys  who  give  promise  to 
be  "chips  oft  of  the  old  block."  His  wife  was 
a  daughter  of  Dr.  ^’ork,  of  Windsor,  and  is  a 
woman  of  great  and  remarkable  strength  of 
character  and  jnirity  of  inirpose.  Hamlin  owes 
no  little  to  the  devotion  and  love  of  this  noble 
woman. 

1U<:XJ.\.MIX  K.  WIHSOX. 

h'airtield  county.  (  )hio,  has  produced  a  great 
many  eminent  men.  For  some  rea.son  thev 
have  had  a  habit  of  emigrating  to  other  fields, 
jirobably  because  there  was  no  room  for  their 
towering  ambition  and  for  expansion  along  the 
famous  "pike.  "  Most  of  them  lived  "nine  miles 
from  Lancaster. "  It  was  on  that  historic  ground 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  first  .saw  the  light  of 
day.  While  yet  a  small  boy  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Shelby  County,  Illinois,  settling  on  a 
farm  in  the  .southern  ])art  of  Shelby  County.  He 
attended  school  at  the  district  school,  working 
night  and  morning  for  his  board  while  attending 
his  last  year  in  the  country  school.  He  taught 
his  first  district  school  at  the  age  of  eighteen  and 
used  what  money  he  made  from  teaching  to 
attend  college,  where  he  received  a  more  liberal 
education.  He  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Mouser  Kelley,  where  he  took  care  of  the 
office  for  the  use  of  books  and  instructions  given 
by  W.  C.  Kelley,  now  of  the  firm  of  Handin  S: 
Kelley.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  June  9th. 
1885,  and  formed  a  partnershi])  with  his  instruc¬ 
tor,  W.  C.  Kelley.  'Pwo  years  later  he  formed 
a  partnershi])  with  Judge  .Anthony  Thornton. 
He  was  elected  City  Attorney  in  1887. 


104 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


been  connected  with  the  city’s  administration 
ever  since,  heinjj  now  City  Attorney  for  the  third 
time. 

Mr.  Wilson's  record  as  a  clean  man  has 
never  been  (jiiestioned.  He  enjoys  the  confi¬ 
dence  of  all  ])arties :  and  re])iihlieans  as  well  as 
democrats  believe  in  him  as  a  man  ;  and  while 
a  strong;  demoerat.  he  never  as.sails  his  political 
opponents  with  abuse,  but  nrakes  them  his  friends 
with  clean-cut  arjjument.  ( )ne  of  his  republican 
friends,  in  speakin,"^  of  him  when  he  was  a  candi¬ 
date  for  State  Senator  in  the  cami)aitjn  of  ujoo. 
said  :  “He  has  never  held  an  office  that  he  did 
not  do  more  for  the  i)eople.  and  take  more  in¬ 
terest  in  their  affairs,  and  accom])lish  more  than 
his  duties  recpiired  :  and  no  man  of  any  party 
rpiestions  either  his  ability  or  his  intej^ritv."  ( )ne 
of  the  leading:  republicans  of  this  city  said  the 
other  day:  "1  would  rather  have  the  o])iniou 
of  1>.  F.  \\  ilson  on  a  (piestion  of  law  than  anv- 
body  else.  There  may  be  just  as  cfotMl  lawyers, 
but  I  have  eonfidence  in  him  ;  and  the  rea.son  I 
say  this  is  because  he  has  been  my  lethal  adviser 
for  years ;  and  he  has  always  been  ri^bt  with 
me." 

Mr.  Wilson  was  married  in  1882  to  Miss  Mary 
F.  Thomas  of  Shelby  County.  Tbe  family  con¬ 
sists  of  two  skirls  and  two  boys,  the  youngest  be¬ 
ing  about  I  I  years  old.  (  )ne  of  the  daughters 
graduated  from  the  sehools  of  this  city  this 
s])ringr.nd  one  daughter  will  graduate  next  year. 
The  mother  of  this  family  is  a  woman  of  rare  ac¬ 
complishments.  being  hap])iest  when  surrounded 
by  her  family  as  a  reading  circle. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  a  large,  heavy  man.  with  a 
strong  face.  self-])oised.  cool,  dehberate.  and  has 
great  eourage.  He  is  not  a  good  “mixer"  in  the 
usual  seiyse.  as  he  won't  go  into  a  deliberate  eom- 
bination  to  do  either  a  political  or  financial  dirty 
job.  He  was.  for  several  years,  tbe  police  magis¬ 


trate  of  Shelbyville.  and  decided  every  cause  with 
the  most  commendable  judicial  fairness.  He  was 
candidate,  in  his  party,  for  Prob.ate  Judge,  and  if 
real  merit  had  been  at  a  premium,  would  have 
been  nominated  :  and  if  elected.  Shelby  Countv 
would  have  had  a  County  Court  to  be  proud  of. 
He  is  of  a  judicial  turn,  and  has  the  sterling 
(pialifications  that  go  to  make  a  good  Judge. 
However,  it  is  not  always  that  men  best  (|ualihed 
by  nature  and  attainments,  obtain  the  place  they 
are  best  fitted  for.  W  ilson  will  be  a  faetor  in 
Shelby  County  polities  hereafter,  and  may  win 
when  better  known. 

WILIJ.KM  11.  R.\(T\\ 

is  a  man  of  boundless  energy.  He  was  birrn  in 
this  county;  his  father  was  a  soldier  and  a  far¬ 
mer.  Ragan  studied  law  under  W.  C.  Kelley, 
when  a  student  in  the  High  school  of  Shelbyville. 
He  literally  worked  his  way  through  school,  do¬ 
ing  all  sorts  of  chores,  making  his  home  with 
Mr.  Rushrod  \\  .  Henry,  the  father  of  l’>.  \\  . 
Henry  of  \  andalia.  He  was  a  rapid  worker 
i  nd  could  do  anything  in  the  house  or  out.  and 
when  his  work  was  done  he  would  literally  run 
to  school.  He  graduated  from  our  High  school 
and  became  one  of  the  teachers  in  it.  He  prides 
himself  on  his  ability  to  make  a  sjjeech.  and  has 
won  his  wav  to  prominence  through  that  faculty. 
He  has  been  County  Judge  and  School  Direc¬ 
tor.  and  is  now  partner  with  Judge  Thornton. 

WILLIAM  H.  CR.MC. 

is  the  last  acipiisition  to  our  liar.  He  was  en¬ 
gaged  for  several  years,  and  is  yet.  in  making 
abstracts  of  title  in  the  firm  of  Craig  it  Caris. 
He  was  admitted  in  the  first  elass  after  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  the  new  rides  for  examinations  for  admis¬ 
sions.  and  was  the  only  one  in  seven  a])plicants 
who  ])assed  the  examination.  He  has  a  good 


HIS  TORIC  SHE  TCH. 


knowlcds^e  of  law,  and  s^^ood  judj^nuMit.  but  is 
lir,ndica])])cd  by  bciiii^  ])artially  deaf,  lie  is  a 
safe  adviser  in  all  matters  pertaininj^  to  real 
estate,  and  j^^ives  ])ronnse  of  mak'ini^  a  superior 
man. 

RICHARD  T.  b:i)l)V 

was  l)orn  in  Sbelbyville.  January  j6tb,  iSbp,  and 
is  tile  son  of  W  illiam  Ivddy,  who  was  of  Irish  de- 
eent,  and  his  mother  was  the  dauj^hter  of  John 
llarrett,  an  hhiglishman  who  lived  southwest  of 
Shelbyville.  \\  in.  Ivddy  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  but  beeanie  a  farmer  w  hile  his  boys  were 
younj^.  He  was  a  striet  diseijiliiiarian,  a  ”^reat 
and  intelligent  student  of  the  I’.ible,  and  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  M.  1C  church.  At  his  death  he  left 
a  larj^e  family.  Dr.  W  in.  J.  ICldy  of  Shelbyville. 
Dr.  J.  H.  Ivddy.  now  of  Decatur,  and  ( ).  T. 
ICldy.  dental  suri^eon,  also  of  Decatur:  Dowling 
iCldy  who  is  now  in  the  Klondike,  and  Richard 
'1'.,  at  present  located  in  Shelbyville,  111.  Rich¬ 
ard  was  educated  at  Del’auw  I'niversity,  and 
studied  law  there  and  at  Chicago.  W  hen  he  was 
twenty-five  years  old  he  was  associated  with 
John  R.  (leorge.  and  practiced  law  in  Chicago. 
.\t  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Spain,  he 
entered  the  service  of  L'ncle  Sam.  2nd  Illinois 
\  ()1.  Infantry,  and  went  to  Cuba,  where  he  saw 
much  of  Cuban  life  and  the  rank  evidence  of  the 
depressing  effect  of  Spanish  misrule  on  that  gem 
of  the  sea.  Soon  after  his  return,  his  brotlier- 
in-law  and  brother  died,  leaving  families  and 
farms  that  imjieriously  demanded  a  man's  super¬ 
vision,  and  he.  in  an  unselfish  manner.  dro])])ed 
his  own  work  and  took  u])  the  brother's  burden. 
'I'liis  probably  is  only  a  temporary  arrangment, 
and  as  he  is  young  yet,  he  can  outlive  the  loss 
to  him,  and  take  uj)  his  chosen  work  with  new 
zeal,  and  jirofit  by  his  experience.  He  is  a  young 
man  of  talent  and  the  most  genial  manners,  and 
has  a  host  of  warm  friends. 


HOX.  C.  K.  TORRKXCK, 

who  lives  in  Cowden,  was  admitted  to  practice 
law  a  few  years  ago.  He  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  in  uSi/),  and  served  his  constituencv 
w  ith  credit  to  himself :  he  gives  more  attention 
to  the  management  of  his  lands  than  he  does  to 
his  ])ractice  of  law.  and  he  is  highlv  respected 
by  all  with  whom  he  is  accpiainted.  His  son, 

TIK  )RXT(  )X  TORRKXCK. 

was  admitted  to  ])ractice  the  present  year,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  teaching  school.  Another  of 
the  liar  of  Shelby  Countv  is 

W  1  LL1.\M  T(  fWXSKXD. 

He  studied  law  in  Sullivan,  under  .\lbert  Creen. 
has  been  State's  Attorney  of  Shelbv  Countv,  and 
Master-in-Chancery.  He  has  never  been  over¬ 
worked  by  his  business,  and  reads  fiction  and 
poetry,  and  at  odd  times,  he  tells  us,  he  lectures 
on  “Smiles  and  Tears  at  the  Shrine  of  llacchus," 
and  on  subjects  ])ertaining  to  the  Modern  Wood¬ 
men.  He  is  a  better  lawyer  than  many  men 
give  him  credit  for.  but  has  been  unable  to  break 
into  the  clicpies  and  rings  of  his  jiarty  to  any 
great  extent,  owing  probably  to  his  independent 
disposition.  He  was  a  gold  democrat  in  '96. 
\\’hat  he  may  be  in  the  campaign  of  1900  re¬ 
mains  to  be  seen. 

.MILTOX  llARl'.KK, 

though  admitted  to  jiractice,  shelved  himself  bv 
going  into  the  office  of  Su])erintendent  of 
Schools  and  insurance. 

CxKO.  R.  WEXDLIXG 

was  born  Feb.  15th,  1845.  Ri'cw  to  manhood 
here.  His  grand-father  was  one  of  the  Great 
X’apoleon's  soldiers,  and  was  with  him  on  the 
famous  retreat  from  Moscow,  and  his  ashes  re- 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


])(jse  in  our  cemetery.  (>eo.  R.'s  fatlier  was  a 
”00(1  black-smith,  a  g'ood  farmer,  and  an  honest 
man.  He  jjave  this  son  a  <^ood  college  educa¬ 
tion,  and  the  boy  repaid  the  father,  by  means  of 
liberal  support  when  the  old  man  had  ceased  to 
work.  He  took  his  law  course  with  such  men  as 
Gen.  J.  C.  I’.lack,  and  Joseph  Mann.  Having  a 
fancy  for  elocution,  he  took  lessons  from  the 
tragedian,  McCulloch.  He  commenced  practice 
with  A.  T.  Hall  and  j.  R.  halen  about  the  time 
'Ihornton  was  elected  judge  of  the  Su])reme 
Court.  I’revious  to  that  time  he  edited  a  news- 
pa])er  for  a  few  months,  and  si)oiled  a  brilliant 
newspaper  man  by  going  into  law  practice.  He 
achieved  success  at  the  liar  from  the  first,  and 
while  others  knew  more  law  than  he.  no  one 
could  tell  what  he  knew  better  than  W'endling. 
He  was  associated  with  Moulton.  Thornton  and 
Chafee  in  the  defense  of  the  banker.  Thos.  M. 
Thornton,  for  the  killing  of  (ieorge  'I'ackett,  nine 
years  before.  W  hile  each  attorney  performed 
the  part  assigned  to  him  with  marked  ability, 
W'endling,  by  the  witchery  of  his  voice  and  the 
wise  use  of  all  the  great  s])eeches  ever  made  b}' 
the  greatest  lawyers  in  the  I’nited  States  in  simi¬ 
lar  trials  easily  won  first  honors  and  held  the  hearts 
of  the  audience  and  jury.  I  have  heard  many 
famous  men  s])eak.  but  take  him  for  all  iii  all. 
W’endling  is  the  most  effective  speaker  of  them 
all.  He  has  won  fame  and  first  place  all  over 
the  Cnitcd  States  by  his  matchless  elo(|ucnce. 
but  in  none  of  his  magnificent  lectures  any  time 
1  have  heard  him.  has  he  risen  to  the  full  height 
he  often  attained  in  talking  to  a  jurv. 

In  a  way.  he  is  .Shelby  County's  favorite  son. 
but  he  has  shaken  the  dust  of  our  streets  from 
his  shoes,  and  claims  some  other  |)lace  as  his 


home. 

yet 

his 

old 

friends  here  are 

])roud 

of 

him 

and 

his 

achievements. 

1  ’rior 

to 

the 

trial. 

he 

and  Chafee, 

working  together,  ])rocured  the  release 
on  habeas  cori)us  of  John  .\ustin.  Jake  .Kustin 
and  Mrs.  Antonio  McClintock,  behjre  Judge 
.\nthony  Thornton,  then  of  the  Su])reme  Court. 
'I'hese  defendants  were  in  jail  t)n  a  charge  of  the 
murder  of  Eugene  McClintock,  husband  of  .\n- 
tonio.  They  were  ac(|uitted.  Mrs.  .McClintock 
has  since  been  tried  on  a  similar  charge  and 
esca])ed  in  h't.  Smith.  .\rk.  W'endling  was 
member  of  the  constitutional  convention  that 
drafted  our  constitution  of  1870. 

He  married  Jose])hine.  the  sister  of  Hon. 
\..  r>.  Stejihenson.  mentioned  in  these  notes,  and 
was  blessed  by  being  the  father  of  two  daugh¬ 
ters,  Frances  and  Grayson,  and  c^ne  son,  (iCorge. 
(  )ne  of  these  daughters  has  become  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Catchings,  a  lawyer  living  in  Mississiiipi.and 
his  son  is  in  .some  \  irginia  college.  Shelby 
County  can  be  proud  of  these  girls,  for  no  more 
graceful  or  beautiful  girls  ever  visited  Washing¬ 
ton.  W’endling’s  fame  and  fortune  is  in  his  lec¬ 
tures.  lie  has,  so  his  bureau  says,  delivered 
them  over  15.000  times  at  a  price  from  $100  to 
S500  a  lecture.  The  themes  of  these  lectures 
are:  "If  a  .Man  Die  Shall  He  Five  .\gain?" 
"I'nseen  Realities:"  "The  .Man  of  ( lalilee  :  " 
"Saul  of  Tarsus;"  "Is  Death  the  End?"  "Stone¬ 
wall  Jackson:"  ".Mirabeau."  and  others.  In 
the  thousands  of  times  he  has  spoken,  he  has 
comjrassed  the  entire  country,  and  stood  before 
as  tine  audiences  as  ever  greeted,  criticised  and 
cheered  any  man,  and  only  a  few  of  the  good 
things  .said  and  forgotten,  may  be  embalmed 
here  for  his  early  friends.  ( )f  "Sard  of  Tarsus" 
from  llaltimore  .\merican.  "He  traced  the  his¬ 
tory  of  raid's  life  as  orator,  hero,  martyr,  and 
man  liy  a  series  of  beautiful  word  pictures,  and 
delivered  some  of  Raul's  speeches  with  wonder¬ 
ful  effect." 

Syracuse  (X.  ^^)  Standard.  (Editorial.) 


107 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


"r.(.'auty  of  diction,  force  of  losyic.  and  earnest¬ 
ness  are  tlie  leadiii”'  characteristics  of  Mr.  W’end- 
lin^'  on  the  platform,  llis  tribute  to  the  marvel¬ 
ous  ])o\ver  of  I’anl  ami  his  im])assioned  apostro- 
])he  were  somethin^;'  never  to  he  fors>()tten.  The 
delineation  was  masterfnl.  the  ])eroration  was 
sublime." 

■‘Is  Death  the  iCnd."  Williamsport  (i’a.) 
Dazette.  "'I'here  is  no  other  man  livinj^  who  is 
like  or  similar  to  this  famous  man  in  the  charac¬ 
ter  of  his  public  lectures,  lie  more  successfully 
])oi)nlarizes  relij^ious,  scientific,  and  philosophical 
subjects  than  all  others,  lie  is  today  the  most 
soni^ht  for  of  all  .\merican  lecturers." 

(  )f  "Stonewall  Jackson,"  Charlotte  (X.  C.) 
(  Ihserver.  "Charlotte  had  been  ])rei)ared  by 
critics,  in  whom  she  had  confidence,  to  e.xpect 
somethiiy^'  grand  in  W'endling,  hut  of  his  ])ower. 
wondrous  that  it  is ;  his  magnetism  of  look, 
s])eech,  and  action  ;  his  beauty  of  thoiy^iit  and 
word  in  which  he  clothes  the  thought ;  his  mag¬ 
nificent  descriptive  ])ower — of  these,  hearsay, 
like  the  photograph,  which  can  convey  hut  a  cold 
and  imperfect  idea  of  what  the  living  face  with 
its  expression  and  color  is  like — can  give  hut  an 
imperfect  idea  of  what  W'endling  is.  The  stage 
was.  in  itself,  an  ins])iration.  The  portrait  of  the 
great  Confederate,  the  theme  of  the  evening’s 
lecture,  hung  on  the  centre  wall.  Hack  of  it  was 
dra])ed  the  Cemfederate  Mag.  in  which  his  body 
was  wrapped  after  death.  Cnderneath  the  por¬ 
trait  was  Jackson’s  sword,  and  to  the  right  and 
left  his  field-glasses,  pistols,  gold  spurs  sent  him 

t 

by  the  ladies  of  Haltimore.  and  also  the  spurs  he 
wore  all  during  the  war,  and  other  Confederate 
relics.  Mrs.  Stonewall  Jackson  herself  superin¬ 
tended  the  decoration  of  the  stage,  and  its  sim- 
])licity  was  characteristic  of  her  good  taste." 

The  Xew  York  Chautauqua,  as  the  head 
center  of  education,  said  of  him  ;  "This  gentle¬ 


man  has  written  his  name  at  Chantamiua  where 
none  can  reach  to  obliterate  it.  lie  was  horn  in 
lllimjis,  educated  at  the  Chicago  L'niversity,  and 
is  now  a  i)racticing  lawyer.  As  to  the  scope  of 
his  reading  and  knowledge,  he  seems  to  he  an 
encyclo])aedia  in  himself.  'I'he  only  department 
of  learning  w  hich  did  not  glitter  and  blaze  in  his 
lecture,  was  his  professional  lore.  'I'lie  jurist 
was  lost  sight  of  in  the  histemian,  the  plnlosoi)her, 
the  jKdemic,  and  the  statesman,  llis  analytical 
faculty  is  the  acutest,  and  his  logic  remorseless, 
lie  has  just  enough  of  the  poetic  element  to 
dress  his  tlujughts  in  attractive  and  heantifnl 
lorm  without  obscuring  a  thought  or  disturbing 
his  argument. 

"lie  is  yet  in  the  morning  of  life,  verging 
towards  high  noon  ;  stoutly  built,  a  keen  eye. 
black  hair,  and  in  all  respects,  a  splendid  man. 
lie  held  the  iilatform  as  a  king,  and  swayed  his 
audience  for  two  hours  by  the  scejitre  of  his  elo- 
(juence." 

Pages  of  rich  extracts  from  his  lectures 
might  he  given,  if  s|)ace  w'cre  ])ermitted,  hut  my 
own  inclination  goes  toward  the  genial  neigh¬ 
bor,  the  jolly  friend,  the  charming  companion, 
the  fun  (jf  a  fight  in  .some  more  or  less  interest¬ 
ing  law  suit  before  some  wise  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  or  a  court  with  more  power  and  dignity, 
yet  |)erhap.s  no  more  sense :  or  at  the  fireside,  or 
in  the  shade  with  cigar  and  story  and  joke  and 
tale,  or  fishing  up  and  down  the  ( )kaw  or  in  the 
lakes  of  the  Xorth.  These  are  things  that  W’end- 
ling  enjoyed,  and  he  has  written  me  in  the  past, 
that  his  heart  ever  turned  to  his  boyhood  home 
and  friends,  as  the  old  coons  did  to  Suawanee 
River.  W’endling  was  of  Cierman  and  h'rench 
extraction,  is  of  stout  build,  hut  very  graceful  on 
the  platform.  Pie  is  convivial  in  his  habits, 
against  his  best  ])rincii)les,  but  we.  w  ho  know  of 
the  hereditarv  trend,  and  the  sentiments  that 


io8 


•  n  t  '  '  ( ( t  C  ■ 


JUDGE  SAMUEL  \V.  MOULTON. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


were  in  vo^-ne  here  wlien  he  was  a  l)()y  and 
yountj  man.  can  and  do  feel  that  he  has  fought 
against  heredity  and  fashion,  and  stood  firmly 
where  weaker  men  wonld  have  fallen  never  to 
rise.  George  was  horn  a  democrat,  and  ([nite 
naturally,  in  this  county,  remained  one.  but  when 
the  ])arty  made  snch  a  mess  of  itself  about  the 
war,  he  thought  correctly  its  days  of  nsefnlness 
were  past,  and  delivered  a  funeral  oration  over  its 
supposed  ashes:  after  it  was  galvanized  into  life 
again,  he  kissed  and  made  up,  only  to  have  his 
affections  grow  cold,  as  liryan  led  the  [)arty  to 
the  altar  of  i6  to  i.  lint  1  see  now  he  has  again 
sought  rest  m  the  old  mother's  arms,  and  seeks 
to  he  shielded  from  the  great  shadow  of  imper¬ 
ialism  that  liryan  has  hypnotized  the  old  party 
into  believing  hangs  like  a  pall  over  the  country. 

HOX.  SA.ML'KL  W.  MOI’LTOX. 

the  most  distinguished  lawyer  of  our  liar  except¬ 
ing  Judge  Thornton,  was  horn  in  Hamilton,  near 
Salem,  r^lassachusetts.  in  1821.  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  academy  of  his  native 
town.  His  father  was  a  sea  ca])tain  for  over 
thirty  years,  and  Mr.  Moulton  himself  made  a 
voyage  of  some  distance,  hut  owing  to  his  being 
extremely  near-sighted,  he  was  compelled  to  lit 
himself  for  other  work,  .\hout  the  time  he  was 
twenty  or  before,  in  1841.  he  followed  the  Xew 
England  custom  of  emigrating  to  the  \\  est, 
traveling  by  stage  and  on  the  canoes  and  rivers, 
teaching  school  for  about  a  year  in  Kentucky, 
and  afterwards,  in  1843.  s])ent  a  vear  or  more  in 
teaching  in  Mississip])i.  where  he  became  a  voter, 
casting  his  first  vote  for  I’olk,  when  the  battle 
cry  was  “54 — 40  or  fight."  He  was  married 
in  Mississi])pi  in  1844.  to  Miss  Marv  H.  Affieck. 
of  Scotch  birth  and  decent,  and  shortlv  after¬ 
wards  they  moved  to  Illinois,  living  a  short  time 
in  Coles  County,  near  Oakland.  Mrs.  Moulton 


was  a  daughter  of  Thos.  and  Mary  Affieck.  and 
was  horn  in  Dumfries.  Scotland.  The  family 
moved  to  Illinois  in  1836.  r^lr.  Affieck  was  a 
merchant  and  land-owner,  and  a  man  of  great 
ability  and  rare  versatility.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  iMoul- 
ton  have  lived  together  for  over  fiftv-six  vears. 
In  her  prime  Mrs.  Moulton  was  a  most  hosjiit- 
ahle  entertainer,  and  all  her  life  has  been  devoted 
to  charitable  works,  and  manv  an  unfortunate  or 
sick  neighbor  has  felt  the  kindness  which  she 
so  lavishl)-  extended.  Mrs.  Moulton  was  a  great 
reader,  and  has  a  fine  sense  of  the  beauties  of 
literature,  and  still  enjoys  reading  and  repeat¬ 
ing  both  old  and  new  jokes.  In  her  ])rinie  her 
house  was  ever  open  to  the  young  people,  and 
the  center  of  the  best  society,  the  young  i)eo])le 
always  enjoying  the  mirth  of  the  event  as  well 
as  the  lavish  and  a])])etizing  repast  which  she 
served  with  great  skill.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  1C  church  and  has  been  for  50  years.  .Vmong 
her  good  works.  1  take  i)leasnre  in  mentioning 
the  fact  that  while  she  has  had  no  children  of 
her  (jwn.  she  has  s])ent  herself  in  training  and 
educating  a  number  of  girls  and  giving  her  best 
thoughts  and  aft’ections  to  her  adoi)ted  son,  Wal¬ 
ter  C.  1  leaden.  Such  care  and  affection  as  she 
lavished  on  the  young  ])eoi)le  who  were,  for  the 
time  being,  as  her  own  children,  is  rarelv  a])- 
])reciated  at  its  full  value  and  seldom  repaid  in 
the  only  coin  that  would  fill  a  woman's  heart. 

In  1847  Mr.  Moulton  was  admitted  to  the 
r>ar  of  Illinois,  and  commenced  i)ractice  at  Sul¬ 
livan.  In  1849  he  removed  to  Shelbyville,  Illi¬ 
nois,  where  he  still  lives,  honored  and  res])ected 
l)y  numerous  friends.  I'or  fifty  years  or  nK)re 
he  has  been  in  active  ])ractice  in  all  of  the  im- 
])ortant  litigations  occurring  in  this  countv,  and 
for  a  great  many  years  in  the  adjoining  counties 
of  Coles.  Effingham.  Eavette,  Montgomery, 
Christian  and  Macon.  He  and  Mr.  Thornton 


109 


HISTORIC  SKHTCII. 


were  nearly  always  on  o])|)()site  sides.  While 
Thornton  was  a  man  .threat,  powerful,  massive, 
with  a  heavy  voice  and  aggressive  manner,  INIonl- 
ton  was  a  slight  man  with  a  weak  voice  and  poor 
eyesight,  yet  always  alert,  wide-awake,  and  per¬ 
fectly  informed  upon  every  cjnestion  that  might 
naturally  he  e.\j)ected  to  come  nj)  on  a  trial.  At 
first  blush  it  might  look  to  a  hy-stander  that  the 
contest  between  the  two  was  very  uneciual,  yet 
before  the  suit  was  finally  dis])osed  of,  Mr.  .Moul¬ 
ton  always  gave  a  good  account  of  himself,  and 
none  (jf  his  clients  ever  lost  any  of  their  rights 
where  he  had  them  in  charge.  Mr.  Moulton  was 
an  active  politician  in  the  early  days,  and  made 
his  presence  felt  at  home,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress,  and  wherever  he  was  known,  lie  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1H53.  and  served 
three  successive  terms  ;  he  was  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  balneation,  and  to  him  the  great 
State  of  Illinois  is  largely  indebted  for  its  most 
perfect  system  of  free-schools. 

For  eighteen  years  or  more  he  was  jiresident 
of  the  Hoard  of  Lducation,  having  charge  of  the 
Xormal  ITiiversity,  and  in  this  sketch  we  have 
used  the  s])eech  of  I’rof.  Hrownlee,  delivered  in 
Shelby ville,  June.  icSyS,  on  the  occasion  of  un¬ 
veiling  the  pictures  of  judges  Thornton  and 
.Moulton  in  the  court  house,  to  emphasize  this 
crowning  act  in  .Mr.  .Moulton's  life. 

Prof.  Prownlee,  one  of  the  foremost  orators 
of  the  state  and  a  teacher  ofelocution  and  English 
literature  in  the  ITiiversity  of  Illinois,  (now  of 
Charleston),  delivered  an  address  uiion 
the  common  schools  of  Illinois,  showing  the  con¬ 
nection  of  Mr.  Moulton  with  that  subject, 
from  which  he  has  permitted  me  to  make  ex¬ 
tracts.  For  beauty  of  diction,  absolute  truthful¬ 
ness,  and  elegance  of  delivery,  this  speech  was 
the  gem  of  the  occasion.  Every  Shelby  County 


man  must  feel  proud  that  his  fellow-citizen,  .Mr. 
.Moulton,  was  deserving  of  all  the  ])raise  there¬ 
in  ex])ressed.  Here  follow  (piotations  from 

.MR.  IIROW.XLEE'S  SI’EECll: 

In  ])lacing  this  sentiment  uiion  the  ])ro- 
gram,  and  in  selecting  a  teacher  to  resiiond  to  it, 
your  committee  have  not  only  honored  me,  but 
have  also  honored  the  noble  profession  I  repre¬ 
sent  here  this  day.  ,\nd  in  behalf  of  the  25000 
teachers  of  Illinois,  as  well  as  for  myself,  I  desire 
to  express  my  deep  sense  of  the  courtesy  thus 
shown  us.  'I'he  gentlemen  you  honor  in  vour 
ceremonies  today,  each  n^s  won  honors  in  an 
honorable  and  strenuous  profession.  .More  than 
this,  each  has  been  the  friend  of  education  and 
schools.  I  know  this;  for  not  to  know  some¬ 
thing  of  their  long  and  useful  lives,  is  to  argue 
one's  self  unknown.  .And  in  sjieaking  to  my 
theme.  1  shall  find  it  imjxrssible  not  to  say  some 
words  in  praise  of  one  of  these  gentlemen  who 
has  had  much  to  do  with  the  creation  of  our 
system  of  free  ])ublic  schools.  It  will  be  a  pleas¬ 
ure  indeed  tor  me  to  s])eak  of  his  priceless  ser¬ 
vices.  'ITie  poet  Landon  says; 

‘■'ITiere  is  a  delight  in  singing,  though  none 
hear 

Resides  the  singer;  and  there  is  del  ight 
In  praising,  though  the  jiraiser  sit  alone 
.\nd  see  the  jiraised  far  off  from  him,  far 
above.” 

VVe  are  proud  of  our  imjjerial  state ;  of  her 
natural  resources,  her  prairies,  her  forests,  her 
hills,  her  valleys,  her  rivers  ;  proud  of  her  civili¬ 
zation,  her  hamlets,  her  towns,  and  her  cities, 
and  her  chief  city,  Chicago.  Queen  (if  the  West, 
and  destined  to  be  the  metropolis  of  the  western 
world. 


I  10 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


"( )'er  thy  wilderness  of  prairies,  Illinois,  Illinois, 
Straight  thy  way  and  never  varies,  Illinois, 

Till  upon  the  western  sea. 

Stands  a  great  commercial  tree. 

Turning  all  the  world  to  thee, 

Illinois." 

W’c  are  proud  too,  of  the  history  of  Illinois 
and  of  the  men  whose  names  are  written  upon 
its  glittering  pages.  Indeed, 

"Xot  without  thy  wondrous  story,  Illinois, 
Illinois, 

Can  he  writ  the  Xation’s  glory,  Illinois. 

( )n  the  record  of  thy  years, 

.Abraham  Lincoln's  name  ajrpears. 

Grant,  and  Logan,  and  our  tears. 

Illinois." 

And  gentlemen,  we  are  ahso  proud  (rf  our 
system  of  public  schools.  In  them  knowledge 
unfolds  her  am])le  page  rich  with  the  spoils  of 
time  to  all  the  children  of  the  State. 

These  schools  are  the  safeguard  of  our  im- 
jrerial  State,  and  a  perjretual  fountain  of  intellec¬ 
tual  blessing  to  us  all.  Few  states  in  this  I'nion 
can  boast  of  a  system  ecpial  to  ours.  Pardon  a 
moment  of  statistics.  There  are  25000  teachers 
engaged  in  an  office  that  might  be  envied  by  a 
sera])h  of  light,  that  of  fornring  and  training  the 
cajjacities  and  characters  of  nearly  one  million 
of  the  children  of  Illinois. 

"Oh,  these  angels  of  hearts  and  of  households. 

They  are  angels  of  God  in  disguise. 

His  sunlight  still  sleeps  in  their  tresses. 

His  glory  still  gleams  in  their  eves." 

More  exactly,  these  pupils  are  goo.ooo  in 
number.  In  addition  to  teachers  and  ])upils. 
there  is  a  host  of  school  officers  giving  unstinted 
service  for  the  good  of  the  state,  in  most  cases, 
without  compensation.  \\’ith  a  school  master's 
love  of  arithmetic.  I  have  summed  them  all  up 


together  .and  done  a  little  figuring.  I  find  that 
if  all  these  pupils,  teachers,  school  officers,  were 
to  march  past  this  court  house  in  line  at  the  rate 
of  forty  a  minute  for  eight  hours  a  dav,  they 
would  be  seventy-two  days  in  passing.  The  ex¬ 
penses  of  the  schools  last  year  were  $iy,ooo.ooo. 
If  this  sum  were  in  silver  dollars  stacked  one 
upon  another,  it  would  make  a  column  thirtv 
miles  high.  I  find  that  the  value  of  school  prop¬ 
erty  is  in  round  numbers  $50,000,000.  Thi.-> 
would  make  a  column  seventy-five  miles  high. 
This  imperial  commonwealth  has  wiselv  umler- 
taken  to  educate  all  her  children  ;  and  as  thev 
complete  all  their  studies  and  go  out  to  take 
])laces  in  this  working  world,  they  repav  her  ten¬ 
fold  for  the  cost  of  their  training.  Put,  gentle¬ 
men.  this  stupendous  system  of  free  schools  did 
not  grow  as  grows  the  grass.  These  beautiful 
buildings  that  decorate  our  prairies  and  towns, 
and  cities,  did  not  rise  in  an  hour  like  an  exhala¬ 
tion.  to  the  .sound  of  music  and  sweet  voices,  as 
did  Satan's  palace.  Pandemonium.  ( )ur  iJublic 
school  system  was  reached  only  after  a  (juarter 
of  a  century  of  discussion  and  struggle,  and  at 
last  adopted  against  bitter  opjiosition.  It  has 
attained  its  ])resent  breadth  and  efficiency  onlv 
through  forty  years  of  ex])eriment  and  effort, 
and  sacrifice.  Somewhere  1  have  read  the  storv 
of  a  painter  whose  colors,  and  whose  crimsons 
in  particular,  were  the  despair  of  his  brother  ar¬ 
tists.  d'ry  as  they  might,  they  could  not  ecpial 
his  rich  crimsons.  The  artist  died ;  and  when 
they  laid  him  out  for  the  grave,  they  found  just 
over  his  neart  an  unhealed  wound.  The  secret 
of  his  gc;)rgeous  crimson  was  revealed.  He 
mixed  the  colors  with  the  blood  of  his  own 
heart.  Even  so.  there  has  gone  into  the  estab¬ 
lishing  and  perfecting  of  our  schools  the  verv 
life-blood  of  a  host  of  noble  men  and  women. 
Time  will  not  jiermit  me  to  speak  of  the  salient 


I  r  I 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


points  ill  its  historx'.  l''ver\'  j^rcat  work  rcciuircs 
tlio  co-operation  of  many  minds.  Xo  one  man 
can  be  called  the  creator  of  this  ma}.^nificent  sys¬ 
tem. 

Mr.  Moulton  would  not  thank  me  if  I  should 
endeavor  to  minimize  the  services  of  many  men. 
both  of  my  ])rofession  and  of  his  own,  who  de¬ 
voted  their  best  eneiy^ies  to  the  establishment  of 
our  school  system — he  would  not.  1  say.  thank 
me  for  minimizing-  their  efforts  in  order  to  ex- 
ajroerate  his.  lie  is  but  one  link  in  the  "olden 
chain  of  benefactors  who  established  the  free 
school  svstem  of  Illinois.  lUit  this  1  may  fairly 
sav.  that  he  is  the  bri,i^htest  link  in  the  shining 
chain  ;  and  that  if  any  one  may  be  called  the 
father  of  our  free  school  system,  that  man  is 
Samuel  \\  .  Moulton.  " l’erha|)S.'’  as  Emerson 
suggests,  "to  the  eye  of  deity  one  hour  in  the 
life  of  a  man  or  of  a  state  is  just  as  critical  as 
another:  but  to  our  imperfect  sight,  there  arc 
certain  moments,  or  years,  in  the  life  of  a  man 
or  of  a  state  that  seem  more  critical  than  others." 
'Ihus  Longfellow  says: 

"Strange  is  the  life  of  a  man  and  fatal  or  fated 

the  moments. 

Whereon  turn  as  on  hinges  the  gates  of  the 

walls  adamantine." 

'I'he  years  from  '54  to  ’57,  inclusive,  consti¬ 
tute  the  intellectual  crisis  in  the  history  of  Illi¬ 
nois.  During  those  years  the  State  Superintend¬ 
ency  was  created,  the  free  school  system  was  es¬ 
tablished  and  perfected,  and  the  great  school  at 
Xormal,  for  the  education  of  teachers,  was 
founded.  How  fortunate  that  during  those  fatal 
years  there  was  in  the  legislature  a  young  man 
from  Shelby  County  who  had  brought  from  his 
Xew  England  home,  her  generous  culture  and 
burning  belief  in  free  schools :  how  soon  the 
strong  men  of  my  profession  learned  to  counsel 


with  Samuel  \\  .  Moulton,  and  to  confide  in 
him :  how  they  leaned  upon  him  :  how  freely 
were  the  resources  of  his  scholarship  and  of  his 
trained,  legal  mind  placed  at  their  call.  His 
knowledge  of  the  constitution,  and  familiarity 
with  legal  phraseology  epabled  him  to  put  their 
notions  into  correct  form.  His  hand  drafted 
their  bills  for  the  creation  of  the  State  Superin- 
tendenev,  for  the  establishment  of  a  system  of 
freg  public  schools,  and  the  creation  of  the  great 
mother  Xormal  school.  Mr.  Moulton  was  chair¬ 
man  of  the  committee  of  education  in  the  House 
during  those  critical  years,  h'ortunate  State  to 
have  such  a  son  in  such  a  position  of  power,  at 
such  a  tune,  h'ortunate  son  to  have  such  an  o])- 
poitunity  to  serve  such  a  state.  ( )ur  present  is 
usually  said  to  date  from  1S55,  out  the  law  of 
'55  pi'oved  so  defective,  that  1  am  inclined  to 
date  our  system  from  1857. 

1  also  (]uote  from  Mr.  Moulton’s  appeal  in 
the  Legislature  for  free  schools : 

"Mr.  Si)eaker,  1  presume  but  little  difference 
of  o]>inion  exists  as  to  the  true  object  of  the 
two-mill  tax — that  of  providing  means  for  the 
education  of  all  the  children  of  the  State,  and 
that  each  child  is  of  right  entitled  to  an  equal 
share  of  the  tax,  without  regard  of  condition  or 
locality,  or  from  what  particular  ])art  of  the 
State  it  was  collected.  This  principle  has  its 
foundation  in  the  fact  that  every  child  has  an 
absolute  right  to  an  education  at  the  hands  of 
somebody,  to  an  extent  that  shall  pro])erly  qual¬ 
ify  him  to  discharge  his  duties  as  a  citizen.  Ex¬ 
perience  shows  that  when  education  is  left  to  the 
voluntary  action  of  parents  and  others,  it  is 
greatly  neglected,  and  amounts  almost  to  a  fail¬ 
ure.  Children  come  into  the  world  in  a  helpless 
condition,  and  remain  so  for  years.  They  can¬ 
not  educate  themselves  any  more  than  they  can 


I  I  2 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


IM'ovicle  for  tlieniselves  food  and  clothing;.  Hence 
the  duty  and  necessity  of  government,  providing 
l)y  general  laws,  ample  means  for  their  education. 
This  can  only  be  done  by  taxation  ;  and  I  hold 
that,  as  this  tax  is  collected  by  the  same  persons 
and  m  the  same  manner  as  all  other  state  taxes 
are,  it  should  be  disbursed  upon  the  same  jirin- 
ciple,  without  regard  to  where,  from  what  per¬ 
son,  or  from  what  county  or  locality  col¬ 
lected  ;  and  that  any  other  principle  of  disburse¬ 
ment  operates  une(|ually  and  unjustly. 

‘‘7'he  tax  being  collected  from  all  property 
of  the  state  and  the  object  being  tbe  education 
of  all  the  children  of  the  state,  it  seems  to  me 
that  it  follows  as  an  irresistable  conclusion,  that 
each  child  is  entitled  to  an  ecpial  pro  rata  share 
of  all  the  money  collected  ;  that  if  the  aggregate 
amount  collected  is  etpial  to  five  dollars  for  each 
child,  then  that  is  the  amount  that  each  child  is 
entitled  to.  without  regard  to  any  other  circum¬ 
stances,  and  especially  whether  one  county  pays 
more  or  less  than  another.  If  the  property  is  to 
educate  the  children  of  the  state,  then  the  rich 
counties  ought  to  pay  more  than  the  poor  coun¬ 
ties,  because  they  have  more  to  i)ay  with,  just 
as  the  rich  man  i)ays  more  than  the  ])oor  man. 
Xo  county  or  individual  has  absolute  and  un¬ 
limited  control  over  ])roperty.  It  may  be  regarded 
as  held  in  trust  for  certain  ])urposes.  The  right 
of  every  child  in  the  land  to  be  educated  is  one 
of  these,  and  of  primary  importance,  upon  which 
our  government  stands.  This  great  i)rinci])le.  1 
trust,  will  never  be  subverted  and  lost  sight  of 
by  the  adoption  of  the  ])rinciple  that  particular 
localities  shall  receive  back  just  what  they  pay, 
which  amounts  to  no  ta.xation  at  all. 

"Mr.  S];)eaker.  I  desire  only  to  say  a  word  as 
to  the  result  of  the  free  school  ex])criment  in  this 
state.  Two  years  ago  the  system  was  adopted, 
and  it  went  into  operation  under  not  very  faveu'- 


able  au.spices.  It  was  rather  a  novel  thing  to 
many  of  our  citizens,  some  of  them  being  greatlv 
])rejudiced  against  it ;  and,  besides,  there  were 
ntany  defects  and  objectionable  things  in  the  old 
law,  but,  notwithstanding  the  many  disadvan¬ 
tages  of  the  old  law,  the  e.xpectation  of  its  friends 
have  been  more  than  realized.  I'he  people  have 
been  aroused  Irom  the  apathy  that  enthralled 
them  ;  they  have  been  brought  into  direct  con¬ 
tact  with  the  system,  good  or  bad ;  for  when 
peo|)le  are  ta.xed  for  a  thing,  they  become  in¬ 
terested  in  it.  '1  he  result  seems  to  be  that  the 
great  mass  of  the  jreople  everywhere  are  in  favor 
of  continuing  the  two-mill  tax,  and  differ  only 
about  the  details  of  the  law.  It  is  a  remarkable 
fact,  worthy  of  all  remembrance,  that  no  state 
or  ])eoplc  who  have  once  adopted  a  free  school 
system  ever  abandoned  it." 

'riiis  bill  for  an  act  entitled,  "An  act  to  es¬ 
tablish  and  maintain  a  system  of  free  schools." 
was  passed  on  final  reading.  February  5th.  was 
subse(|uently  concurred  in  by  the  Senate  and 
apjiroved  by  tbe  governor,  b'ebruary  16th.  1S57. 
— and  the  twenty-five  ye:.rs  struggle  was  over 
and  won.  'I  he  true  measure  of  the  greatness  of 
the  event  is  found  in  its  results. 

'1  hus  measured,  no  other  event  in  the  his- 
tor\  of  Illinois  ecpials  this.  ('len.  Wolfe,  droj)- 
])mg  down  the  St.  Lawrence  at  midnight  to  the 
Heights  of  .Abraham,  recited  in  low  tones  to  his 
officers,  ('iray’s  matchless  Elegy,  and  then  said: 
"('lentlemen,  1  would  rather  be  the  author  of  that 
poem  than  to  take  Ouebec  tomorrow."  \\  ho 
would  not  rather  go  down  the  ages  as  the  author 
of  that  bill  creating  a  system  of  free  schools  for 
Illinois,  than  as  the  glorious  destroyer  of  a  Span¬ 
ish  fleet  in  the  far  Pacific,  or  even  as  the  captor 
of  Havana.  It  wrs  during  this  same  session  that 
the  chairman  drafted  for  the  Illinois  Teachers' 
.\ssocirtion  the  bill  for  an  act  creating  the  State 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Xoniial  sclu)()l  at  Xornial.  Illinois.  'I'lie  teach¬ 
ers  saw  that  the  Xorinal  idea  was  a  corollary  t)f 
the  free  school  idea.  'I'hev  realized  that  the 
"teachers  nuist  exist  before  the  scholar  can  he 
tan.yht” — that  teaehint;'  is  an  art  that  onj^ht  not 
to  he  mastered  at  the  exiiense  of  the  ])ni)il.s — that 
hnildiii”'.  and  furniture,  and  hlaekhoards.  and 
])n|)ils,  do  not  make  a  school,  unless  there  is  a 
trained  teacher  at  the  desk,  skilled  in  the  hit^h 
office  of  instruction  and  discipline.  'I'his  hill  was 
stroiyqly  ojiposed  in  the  House,  hut  Mr.  Moulton 
was  its  earnest  advocate,  and  only  two  days  be¬ 
fore  adjournment  he  secured  its  iiassai^e.  lie 
was  named  in  the  hill  as  one  of  the  lirst  Hoard 
of  hMneation,  and  served  for  twenty-four  years 
as  a  trustee — most  of  the  time  as  president  of 
the  Hoard,  lie  was  also  chairman  of  the  Huild- 
int^'  Committee,  and  risked  his  private  fortune  by 
sis^niiii^  notes  in  order  to  raise  money  to  com- 
])lete  the  hnildin^'.  'Pime  does  not  ])ermit  me  to 
dwell  upon  this  history  of  this  noble  mother  Xor- 
mal  of  the  W  est.  1  may  not  speak  of  its  forty- 
one  years  of  successful  work — of  its  ui)liftin<>'  in- 
iluence  njion  onr  schools.  Suffice  it  to  s  ly  that 
it  was  so  successful  in  furnishiiye;'  competent 
teachers  for  the  .schools,  that  in  1870  another 
school  for  the  trainino-  of  teachers  was  estab¬ 
lished  Ill  Carhondale,  durinj^  the  administration 
of  Governor  John  M.  Halmer.  This  "reat  school 
o])ened  for  students  in  1874,  has  since  been 
workini^'  in  noble  emulation  with  that  in  Xormal. 
I'urther,  two  additional  Xormal  schools  have 
been  created  which  will  open  their  doors  duriii" 
the  comino^  year.  1  have  but  a  moment  to  sjieak 
further  of  our  school  system,  yet  I  must  call  at¬ 
tention  to  the  fact,  that  this  system  is  now 
crowned  by  a  noble  institution  at  Urbana,  the 
Phiiversity  of  Illinois.  Hut  I  cannot  speak  even 
of  this  institution,  in  wdiich  every  citizen  of  the 
state  has  an  interest  and  jiride,  without  bringing 


in  the  name  of  Mr.  Moulton.  His  services  in  its 
estahlishment  were  valuable,  and  were  fitly 
recognized  when  the  institution  was  inaugurated. 
He  ])resided  on  that  occasion.  ( )nr  system  now 
is  eomjilete.  Xo  son  or  daughter  of  our  state 
need  to  travel  beyond  its  borders  to  get  an  edu¬ 
cation.  Martin  Luther  set  down  three  rules  for 
the  ])nblic  sjieaker:  ist.  ( )pen  your  mouth 
widely.  2nd.  vShout  out  strongly.  3d.  Shut  it 
(|uickly.  I’nless  1  make  an  end  1  shall  violate 
the  last  and  most  inpiortant  of  the  three.  .\nd 
yet  1  may  not  close  without  a  word  more.  As 
the  years  pass  and  the  way  of  life  of  this  noble 
friend  of  education  shall  fall  into  the  sear  and 
yellow  leaf,  let  him  be  cheered  by  the  reflection 
that  he  has  that  which  Macbeth  could  not  look 
to  have,  and  which  should  accompany  old  age. 
as  honor,  love,  obedience,  and  trooiis  of  friends. 
And  among  those  who  love  and  revere  him  are 
the  250t»  teachers  of  Illinois.  .Say  what  you 
will  this  day,  gentlemen,  of  his  career  as  a  law¬ 
yer  and  jurist.  W'e  concede  it  all.  but  we  beg 
yon  not  to  forget  to  put  down  also  that  Samuel 
W'.  Moulton  is  that  friend  of  education,  who  in 
the  establishment  of  our  system  of  free  public 
schools,  was  jiermitted  under  the  jirovidence  of 
Grod  to  render  to  the  state  of  his  adoption  the 
greatest  service  which  is  in  the  j)ower  of  a  citi¬ 
zen  to  bestow. 

In  closing,  let  me  say  that  men  never  grow 
old  while  the  heart  stays  young.  The  fame  of 
these  lawyers,  jurists,  and  statesmen,  whom  we 
honor  today  has  gone  far  beyond  the  wide  bound¬ 
aries  of  their  state ;  and  yet  while  they  are  not 
old,  I  may  address  them  in  the  language  of  the 
immortal  Falslaff  to  the  Chief  Justice  of  Eng¬ 
land  and  say  admonishingly : 

"Your  honors  though  not  clean  past  your 
youth,  have  yet  some  smack  of  age  in  you,  some 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


relish  of  the  saltness  of  time :  I  humbly  beseech 
your  Honors,  to  have  a  reverend  care  of  yonr 
health." 

Mr.  Moulton  was  a  lUichanan  elector  in 
1856;  was  a  Democrat  up  to  the  time  of  the 
war,  and  followed  Douj^las'  lead  in  1861.  He 
sni)i)orted  Douijlas  in  i860.  Hs])ousin^'  the 
eause  of  the  I'nion  aj^ainst  secession,  he  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  1864  as  a  war  Democrat, 
receiving'  the  votes  of  the  entire  Republican 
party.  When  .\ndrew  Johnson  was  i)residen( 
Mr.  Moulton  took  ])rominent  |)art  in  the  famous 
trial,  and  was  associated  in  that  work  with  'I'had- 
deus  Stevens,  ricnjamin  llutler,  John  .\.  Ring- 
bam  and  other  famous  men.  In  1872  he  fol¬ 
lowed  X.  h'.  Ranks.  Carl  Sburz,  and  Chas.  Sum¬ 
ner  in  supporting  Horace  (meeley  for  ])resident. 
against  Grant. 

He  was  afterwards  elected  to  Congress  by 
Democrats  in  1880.  and  again  in  1882.  and 
Speaker  John  (k  Carlisle  a])pointed  him  on  the 
Judiciary  committee.  In  1896  the  apostasy  of  the 
old  Democratic  i)arty  from  its  life-long  doctrines 
on  the  money  (piestion,  and  following  Rryan 
into  the  labyrinths  of  h'ree  Silver  and  various 
other  wild  vagaries,  ajipeared  too  much  for  Mr. 
Moulton,  and  he  supported  the  McKinley  ticket, 
following  the  advice  of  (len.  John  M.  Palmer,  in 
not  wasting  his  vote.  He  is  at  the  present  tinii- 
su])porting  the  Re])ubhcan  party  in  nearly  all  of 
the  cpiestions  now  before  the  public. 

In  1898  I  conceived  the  idea  of 
having  the  life-sized  i)ortraits  of  these  veteran 
lawyers.  Thornton  and  }^Ioulton,  ])ainted  and 
hung  in  the  court  house  in  the  countv  where  thev 
had  for  fifty  years  fought  the  battles  of  giants, 
and  by  the  assistanee  of  the  Rar  and  the  Roard 
of  Su])ervisors,  and  the  concurrent  act  of  the 
C'entral  Committees  of  both  ])ohtical  parties,  the 


matter  was  made  a  great  success  and  the  pic¬ 
tures  of  these  two  men  now  adorn  the  walls  of 
our  beautiful  court  house,  and.  under  an  order 
of  the  court  made  at  that  time,  they  are  to  re¬ 
main  as  "enduring  monuments  of  greatness  and 
grandeur,  and  as  an  inspiration  to  those  now  liv¬ 
ing  and  to  the  generations  yet  unborn."  (  )n  that 
occasion  Shelby  County  entertained  a  host  of 
the  brightest  men  in  the  state,  among  whon 
were  Chief  Justiee  Phillips.  Judge  Creighton. 
Judge  (moss  from  Springfield.  (len.  John  C. 
RIack.  Judge  Rradwell  and  others  from  Chicago 
Judge  Kden  from  Sullivan,  Judge  h'armer  from 
\  andalia.  Judge  Dwight  from  Centralia,  Judge 
W Ood  from  Ivffiiigham.  Judges  Clark,  Hughes 
and  Craig,  an.d  others  from  Mattoon,  and  numer- 
ons  others.  Letters  of  regret  were  sent  by 
I'nited  States  Chief  Justice  .Melville  W.  I'uller, 
the  Hon.  .\dlai  E.  Stephenson.  Prof.  John  W. 
Cook.  IC.\.-('iov.  R.  J.  ( )glesby.  K.x.-(iOv.  John 
P.  .\ltgeld.  lvx.-(iov.  John  M.  Palmer,  and 
numerous  others.  In  fact  that  was  a  Red-Letter 
day  for  Shelbyville.  and  if  si)ace  were  ])ermitted 
1  know  of  nothing  in  the  historv  of  the  county 
more  uni(|ue.  interesting  and  instructive  than  a 
c<4)y  of  those  proceedings  as  preserved  in  the 
Shelby  Comity  Leader  of  the  week  following  the 
ban(|uet.  June.  1898. 

Mr.  Moulton  never  was  blessed  with  child¬ 
ren  of  his  own,  but  he  has  educated  a  number 
of  boys  and  girls.  He  lives  in  a  beautiful  home 
at  the  south  end  of  Rroadway.  in  comfort  and 
elegance,  having  a  large  library  with  which  he 
can  indulge  his  excellent  literary  taste,  and 
siiend  the  larger  jiart  of  his  time.  He  was  always 
a  great  student,  and  took  more  ])leasure  in  un¬ 
raveling  a  knotty  (piestion  of  law  than  most 
lieojile  do  in  reading  the  most  exciting  romances 
or  biography. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


IIOX.  AXTllOXV  THORXTOX. 

Ill  ])rc“i)arinj^  tlie  l)i()”ra])liy  of  Mr.  'riiorii- 
ton,  a.s  a  nicmbcr  of  the  Shelby  County  l>ar,  for 
,i  book  like  the  one  now  ofYered  to  the  pnblie, 
the  .space  hein<;^  limited,  it  becomes  a  difficult 
problem  to  decide  what  to  omit. 

llis  career  covers  nearly  the  entire  history 
of  the  comity,  and  no  im])ortaiit  event  has  ever 
occurred  here  in  which  he  did  not  take  a  part, 
and  every  old  citizen  knows  him  well,  most  of 
the  yonnj.;;er  men  have  seen  him  all  their  lives. 
Ilis  life  embraces  the  period  of  all  the  other 
members  of  the  liar,  and  is  interwoven  with  all 
their  acts,  and  in  many  ways  is  closely  connected 
with  every  family. 

I  shall  use  nincli  that  I  had  occasion  to  pre- 
])are  for  another  purpose,  knowing  that  the  mass 
of  readers  of  this  book  may  have  no  opportunity 
of  ever  seeing  the  other. 

Resiiect  for  age  and  merit  is  one  of  the  les¬ 
sons  taught  more  in  the  jiast,  than  in  the  busy 
jiresent. 

In  snnmiarizing  the  life  of  Judge  'I'hornton, 

1  have  gathered  most  of  the  matter  from  the 
sn])renie  court  reports. 

.Anthony  'riiornton  in  many  ways  is  a  very 
remarkable  man. 

lie  is  a  familiar  figure  to  ns  all.  lie  has 
walked  these  streets  for  over  65  years. 

Ilis  voice  was  heard  in  onr  old  court  house 
when  many  who  are  now  old  men  were  "mewl¬ 
ing  and  ])nking  in  the  nurse’s  arms." 

When  onr  ])resent  court  house  was  dedi¬ 
cated  he  said,  "I  am  with  the  present,  but  of  the 
])ast." 

•After  much  ])ersnasion  T  succeeded  in  get¬ 
ting  -the  Judge  to  give  me  a  memorandum  of 


his  life,  which  I  felt  his  many  old  friends  would 
like  to  read,  and  therefore  have  made  it  part  of 
this  sketch. 

I  have  prefaced  it  by  a  brief  analysis  of  some 
of  his  work  pre])ared  in  connection  with  the 
courts. 

( )f  course  this  is  fragmentary  and  in  no 
way  e.xhanstive  and  is  only  intended  to  keep  in 
memory  for  his  many  friends,  simie  of  the  legal 
e.xireriences  of  a  long  and  honorable  life,  sirent 
in  attending  to  the  afifairs  of  his  clients  in  a 
country  town. 

'I'he  Judge's  career  in  Shelby  County  be¬ 
gan  when  the  state  was  unsettled. 

'I'o  glance  forward  for  another  85  years  and 
contem])late  as  great  changes  as  he  has  seen, 
benumbs  the  senses  and  paralyzes  the  imagina¬ 
tion. 

When  and  where  will  science  and  art,  me¬ 
chanics  and  discovery  cease  their  onward  march? 

The  history  of  a  lawyer’s  life  as  a  lawyer 
can  never  be  made  complete.  The  labor  re- 
(piired  in  prei)aring  cases  for  court,  the  skill  used 
in  preparing  ])ai)ers,  the  knowledge  and  judg¬ 
ment  e.xercised  in  examining  witnesses,  the  long 
])reliminary  labor  of  ac(|niring  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  laws  of  the  country,  the  con¬ 
tinual  training  of  the  mind  to  understand  the 
ten  thousand  fine  ])oints  which  arise  in  an  ordi¬ 
nary  i)ractice  can  never  be  ex])lained  or  written  so 
that  an  ordinary  man.  not  experienced  in  the 
same  line  of  business,  can  comprehend  even  to 
a  small  degree  the  amount  of  labor  and  learning 
which  is  brought  into  use  ui^on  even  trivial  cases. 

Judge  'riiornton  had  the  advantage  in  his 
early  life  of  having  a  thorough  collegiate  edu¬ 
cation,  which  made  him  master  of  the  learning 
of  the  day.  He  was  a  fine  linguist,  reading  Latin 
and  Creek  with  ease  and  a  great  reader  of  all 
the  literature  of  his  time.  He  took  unbounded 


/ 


JUDGE  ANTHONY  THORNTON. 


V 


4 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


(Icliylit  in  rcadin^ij  romance  and  lias  in  Ins  library 
all  of  the  writiiif^s  of  all  of  the  best  writers  jire- 
cedin^  or  contemporary  with  him  ;  added  to  this 
he  was  a  close  student  of  the  law.  He  has  a 
complete  knowledge  of  the  constitution  and  all 
of  the  statutes  of  the  state. 

Considering  that  he  lived  in  a  small  town 
and  in  the  agricultural  heart  of  the  state,  he  had 
as  wide  experience  as  ordinarily  falls  to  the  lot  of 
a  practitioner. 

'I'he  Judge  was  an  active  friend  of  education 
and  contributed  liberally  in  organizing  and 
promoting  the  Shelbyville  Seminary,  at  which 
most  of  our  people  obtained  a  good  education 
prior  to  the  adojition  of  the  common  school  sys¬ 
tem. 

'Pile  Seminary  building  still  stands  on 
llroadwav  and  was  used  up  to  a  short  time  ago. 
as  a  |)ublic  school,  with  very  little  change  from 
its  first  construction. 

He  always  had  the  contidence  of  the  ])eople 
and  in  nSb^  the  county  made  him  its  agent  to 
sell  bonds  to  ])av  bounties  to  drafted  men  to  till 
Shelbv  Countv's  (|uota  for  the  war.  He  handled 
over  Sioo.ooo.  without  being  called  upon  to  give 
any  security  whatever. 

I'or  his  entire  service  and  expense  in  this 
matter,  covering  many  months'  time,  travel  to 
Si)ringfield  and  elsewhere  and  the  risk  of  loss 
and  robberv.  he  charged  and  was  paid  tlie  mu- 
niticent  sum  of  $,^07. 

r>y  election,  in  1870.  Judge  d'hornton  be¬ 
came  a  member  of  the  Supreme  court,  and  the 
new  eourt  then  became  comi)osed  of  Charles  !’>. 
Lawrence.  I’inkney  11.  Walker.  John  .M .  Scott, 
v^indey  llreese.  W  illiam  K.  Mailister  and  llenja- 
min  K.  .Sheldon,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead  ex¬ 
cept  Judge  'riiornton.  'I'he  bench  thus  com¬ 
posed  was  ])erhai)s  the  strongest  that  Illinois 
ever  had.  'I'he  court  soon  became  famous.  Judge 


llreese.  taking  into  consideration  the  lengnli  of 
time  he  served  on  the  bench  and  the  great  legal 
ability  shown  in  his  decisions,  never  had  a  su|)er- 
ior  in  this  state. 

'I'he  bar  of  the  State  as  a  rule  credited 
Judge  'riiornton  with  being  the  jieer  of  Judge 
I’.reese.  lie  occupied  the  bench  for  about  ftmr 
years,  and  exci-pt  for  resigning  from  it  volun¬ 
tarily.  would  have  doubtless  been  retained  in 
that  ])osition  until  the  jiresent  time. 

Judge  'riiornton.  gave  as  a  reason  for  his 
retiring  from  this  jiosition,  thr.t  his  wife's  health 
was  not  good  and  that  it  was  necessary  for  him 
to  be  at  home. 

(  )ther  reasons  have  been  surmised  among 
w  hich  was  tlie  fact  of  a  newspaper  criticism  u|)on 
the  court,  for  its  action  in  tilling  the  editor  of 
the  C'hicago  Journal  several  hundred  dollars  for 
coiitiMiipt  of  court,  because  the  i-ditor  had  coni- 
meiited  severely  upon  one  of  the  court's  ilecis- 
ioiis  relating  to  a  criminal  case  arising  in  Cook 
comity. 

'I'he  jiapcr  was  |)ublished  in  Chicago  and  the 
editor  lived  there.  'I'he  decision  was  made  at 
(  )ttawa.  'I'he  comments  of  the  editor  were  held 
to  be  constructive  conteni|)t. 

'I'he  next  legislature  jiassed  an  act  which 
(U'prived  the  court  of  exercising  such  long-arm 
powers  rcda.ting  to  such  matters. 

.\nother  reason  that  has  been  given  for  the 
Jmlge's  retiring  from  the  bench  was.  that  he  and 
Judge  llreese  were  too  much  alike  and  could  not 
agree,  and  both  of  them  were  irascible  and  used 
very  strong  laiigurge  toward  each  other. 

.\nother  reason  surmised  was  that  his  for¬ 
mer  partners  here  at  home,  under  the  law  that 
had  recentlv  been  enacted  by  which  attorneys' 
fees  were  allowed  by  the  court  in  partition  cases, 
had  great  success  in  getting  such  cases,  and 
made  a  great  deal  more  money  than  the  Judge 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


was  inakiniLj',  without  takini^  vi‘r_\  much  of  their 
time,  such  eases  not  re(|uirimj  very  much  les>^al 
ability,  and  the  Ju(l_^'e  thous,;ht  that  if  he  was  at 
home  his  old  clients  wou.ld  return  to  him,  and 
with  Ins  added  e\|)erieuce  .'is  Judt^'e  he  could  do 
much  better  with  less  labor. 

.  .\uother  reason  was  that  the  su])reme  court 
was  badly  overworked  at  that  time,  as  we  then 
had  no  .\])|)ellate  court  and  the  Jud^e  was  com- 
])elled  to  work  ui|:;ht  and  day  to  ”et  rid  of  his 
share  of  the  cases.  'I'he  last  was  doubtless  the 
most  weii^hty  of  all  the  impelling'  causes. 

W  hatever  the  reason  may  have  been,  it  w.is 
uudoubtedlv  a  threat  mistake  and  a  f^reat  injury 
to  the  profession  and  to  the  bench  to  have  a 
man  so  well  (|ualit'ied  as  he,  retire  from  its  ser¬ 
vice. 

If  he  had  retained  his  jiosition,  the  .\])pel- 
late  court  afterwards  taking'  off  a  larj.;e  .share  of 
the  labor,  there  is  no  telling  how  great  a  Judge 
he  might  have  become. 

While  upon  the  bench  he  wrote  one  hundred 
and  eighty-two  decisions,  reversed  one  hundred 
of  these  cases,  and  affirmed  eighty-two.  In  ad¬ 
dition  to  this  he  had  to  hear  and  join  in  eim- 
sidering  an  ecpial  number  of  eases  that  each  of 
the  other  judges  wrote  o])inions  ui)on. 

W  hen  we  remember  all  this  work  was  done 
by  himself,  without  the  aid  of  a  stenographer  or 
typewriter,  and  that  in  preparing  to  write  a 
decision  he  had  to  re.ad  briefs  and  abstracts  fre- 
(jiiently  covering  thousands  of  pages  in  each 
case  and  examine  the  authorities  cited  and  write 
out  the  opinion,  lawyers  only  can  ap])reciate  the 
vastness  of  Iris  labors. 

W  e  who  have  examined  our  own  briefs  and 
abstracts  and  know  how  much  labor  it  takes  to 
jrrepare  one  properly,  can  give  some  little  esti¬ 
mate  of  what  an  immense  amount  of  work  he 
must  have  performed. 


In  reading  over  the  cases  that  he  took  to  the 
su])reme  court  and  in  looking  over  those  which 
he  decided  as  judge,  it  would  seem  that  it  is 
about  an  even  chance,  in  taking  a  ease  up  that 
you  will  win.  1  have  examined  eighteen  cases 
winch  he  took  to  the  supreme  court.  He  won 
ten  and  lost  eight,  and  as  before  remarked  he  re¬ 
versed  one  hundred  and  affirmed  eighty-two. 
w  Idle  on  the  supreme  bench. 

'riie  dead  and  almost  forgotten  institution 
of  slavery  affords  an  instance  of  affection  for  the 
slave  in  the  judge’s  life  not  infreiiuenl  with  slave 
owners,  but  the  instance  is  known  only  to  a  few 
persons.  Several  years  ago  a  white  haired  negro 
was  seen  walking  around  with  the  judge.  'Phe 
judge  treated  him  with  the  utmost  kindness. 
'I'hose  who  met  him  knew  him  as  I’ncle  Charles, 
lie  had  been  an  old  house  servant  at  the  old 
home  when  the  judge  was  a  boy  and  a  strong  at¬ 
tachment  grew  U])  between  them. 

'Phe  enianeipation  ])roclamation  and  free¬ 
dom  meant  nothing  to  him  and  he  stayed  where 
he  had  s])ent  a  happy  life.  When  too  old  to  work 
any  more  the  judge  sent  him  money  to  jray  his 
way  for  a  visit  to  Illinois,  and  while  here  the 
higher  laws  of  friendshii)  overcame  the  irrejudice 
of  cast  and  color,  and  Circle  Charles  was  treated 
as  one  gentleman  treats  another. 

The  visit  over,  he  returned  to  his  home  and 
as  long  as  he  lived  he  was  cared  for  at  the  judge’s 
expense,  and  after  death  was  given  a  Christian 
burial. 

Like  most  slaves  he  imitated  the  character 
and  habits  of  his  masters,  and  Uncle  Charles  was 
always  a  kind,  courteous  gentleman. 

1  have  heard  it  said  that  when  the  judge 
went  to  the  bench  and  comnrenced  to  write  his 
decisions  that  he  struck  a  high  note  in  legal 
learning,  and  thus  by  the  law  of  emulation  caused 
the  other  judges  on  the  bench  more  carefully  to 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


])rei)arc  tlicir  o])iiii()ns.  r.nd  l)y  tliat  means  ele¬ 
vated  the  tone  and  standing  of  the  entire  bench, 
'lliis  was  easy  to  Judge  Tliornton. 

11  is  command  of  language  was  great,  his 
diction  was  easy,  and  he  has  told  me  that  he 
rarely  re-wrote  his  sentences  in  any  of  his  de¬ 
cisions.  His  statement  of  a  case  was  always 
clear,  the  point  involved  readily  ascertained.  His 
ability  to  rightly  understand  any  authority  cited 
and  apply  ])rinciples  decided  to  the  cpiestion  be¬ 
fore  bun.  made  his  work  a  matter  of  com])arative 
ease.  Having  fully  mastered  the  briefs  and  ab¬ 
stracts  he  could  write  a  decision  with  much  less 
labor  than  a  man  of  less  learning,  experience  and 
ability. 

.As  a  ])ractitioner  he  excelled  in  defending 
parties  charged  with  crime  and  in  cases  demand¬ 
ing  damages. 

He  was  a  large  man.  over  six  feet  high.  1  lad 
a  strong  sonorous  voice  and  when  fully  roused 
had  few  cipials  and  no  suiieriors  in  the  state,  as 
an  advocate  before  the  jury  or  a  lawyer  ])resent- 
iug  a  case  to  a  court. 

He  had  great  skill  in  e.xamining  witnesses. 
es])ecially  a  witness  who  was  trying  to  lie  or  in¬ 
tending  to  deceive  or  who  did  not  want  to  tell 
the  facts  in  the  case. 

h'or  a  great  many  years  in  his  jiractice  in 
Shelbvville  and  in  the  adjoining  counties  he  had 
great  influence  with  juries.  He  was  in  politics 
a  democrat  and  the  counties  in  which  he  had 
most  ])ractice  were  largely  democratic,  and  this 
may  have  aided  to  some  extent  in  obtaining  ver¬ 
dicts.  as  men  are  more  easilv  influenced  by  their 
political  faith,  than  by  their  religion  or  other 
affiliations,  but  outside  of  these  extrinsic  circum¬ 
stances  and  even  against  jirejudices  when  the 
judge  was  at  his  best,  he  made  such  a  fight  for 
his  clients  that  he  often  won  the  decision  against 
all  o])|)osition. 


.\s  a  specimen  of  the  Judge’s  iierspicuity  in 
stating  a  ])roposition.  1  want  to  cpiote  one  sen¬ 
tence  in  a  case  decided  when  he  first  went  onto 
the  bench,  found  in  54  111. 

"When  life  and  liberty  are  at  stake,  every 
circumstance  connected  with  the  alleged  crime, 
and  which  may  tend  to  excuse  or  palliate  the 
conduct,  of  the  party  charged,  or  explain  the 
motive,  should  be  submitted  to  the  jury." 

In  a  case  of  the  People  against  (ieorge  K. 
I'ord  decided  in  54  111..  Ford  being  a  lawyer  at 
the  time  who  had  swindled  a  client,  in  a  ])roceed- 
ing  to  disbar  him.  Judge  'riiornton  shows  his 
high  ap])reciation  of  the  character  which  a  law¬ 
yer  ought  to  have  and  struck  I'ord's  name  from 
the  roll  of  attorneys  from  the  state  of  lllionis. 

Many  of  the  younger  members  of  the  pro¬ 
fession  and  often  some  of  the  old  ones  might 
read  this  decision  with  profit  and  take  the  lesson 
to  themselves  for  the  benefit  of  their  clients.  The 
Judge  says:  "The  facts  in  this  case  develo])  a 
deliiKjuency  abhorrent  to  every  honest  man.  they 
reveal  his  wicked  intent  and  disclose  the  use  of 
a  falsehood  for  the  base  love  of  gain.  .\  lawver 
rssumes  high  duties  and  has  imposed  upon  him 
grave  resiionsibilities.  He  may  be  the  means  of 
much  good  or  much  mischief.  Interests  of  vast 
magnitude  are  intrusted  to  him.  Confidence  is 
reposed  in  him.  Life  and  liberty,  character  and 
jiroperty  should  be  protected  bv  him.  He 
should  guard  with  careful  watchfulness  his  own 
reputation  as  well  as  that  of  his  jirofession.  The 
defendant  has  neglected  his  duties,  betraved  con¬ 
fidence.  practiced  deceit  and  turned  recreant  to 
virtue. 

"He  has  not  alone  disgraced  himself.  He 
has  tarnished  the  fair  fame  of  a  |)rofession  alwavs 
esteemed  honorable.  He  should  no  more  be  ])er- 
mitted  to  minister  in  the  tenpile  of  justice.  His 
name  should  no  longer  be  enrolled  on  the  list 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


of  those  wlu)  scorn  meanness  and  al)hor  false- 
hood.  lie  who  has  not  an  instinctive  and  un- 
swei  viii”'  love  for  truth  and  honor  is  not  a  faith- 
fid  lawyer." 

vSince  I  have  known  him  from  iS6i  down 
to  the  jiresent  time,  he  has  rarely  attended  clmrch 
anywhere,  hnt  in  ne.  riy  all  of  his  piihlic  ad¬ 
dresses.  and  freijiiently  in  talkiny^  to  juries,  he 
s])eaks  in  commendatory  terms  of  christianitv 
and  in  the  most  vij^orous  condemnation  ofhyjioc- 
risy. 

Mis  habits  in  life  were  always  e.xtremelv 
temperate,  lie  smokes,  but  not  to  e.xcess.  and 
occasionally  used  the  chief  product  of  Kentucky, 
mannfactnred  into  a  toddy,  with  a  little  mint  in 
it.  bnt  never  to  e.xcess.  I  never  knew  or  heard 
of  him  beintj  into.xicated.  and  he  freipiently  ex- 
])ressed  a  hearty  contempt  for  peojile  who  make 
a  livinj^  by  sellini;;-  adnlterated  liipiors  over  saloon 
counters,  and  aj^ainst  those  who  license  the 
traffic. 

\\’hile  he  is  a  man  of  austere  ajiiiear- 
ance.  cold  and  re])ellant  to  ])ersons  whom  he  dis¬ 
likes.  or  even  to  strans^ers.  yet.  when  the  crust 
is  broken  and  one  becomes  intimate  with  him.  he 
is  exceedinijly  charmiufj.  interestin_i>'  and  soci¬ 
able.  and  enjoys  life  to  the  hi_"hest  dej^ree. 

lie  is  exceedingly  boyish  in  his  tastes,  and 
notwithstanding^  a,tie.  would  often  "o  lumtintj 
and  hshino".  and  around  the  campfire  in  the 
woods,  he  was  past  master  of  the  fryiu"  pan. 
and  expert  with  ride  and  shot  ft'un.  He  was  an 
expert  and  an  ardent  disci])le  of  Isaac  Walton. 
At  nio[ht.  after  the  fishing  and  hunting  were  over, 
he  was  the  life  of  the  occasion  around  the  camj)- 
fire :  would  organize  a  mock  court,  indicting 
some  of  his  fellow-hunters  forsomeallegedmisde- 
meanor,  appoint  some  one  prosecuting  attorney. 
im|)anel  a  jury,  and  trying  the  culprit  with  the 
hirnis  and  ceremonies  of  court  turned  into  the 


most  ridiculous  shape  and  circnmstances,  with 
some  smart  fellow  for  witness,  after  elo- 
(|uent  siieeches  foi  jirosecution  and  defense, 
the  judge  always  presiding,  would  deliver  a  sen¬ 
tence  that  would  be  the  talk  among  the  campers 
for  months  afterwards,  and  remembered  long  b\' 
tho.se  engaged  in  it  for  its  genuine  mirth  and  ri¬ 
diculous  .solenmitv. 

'1  he  judge,  like  most  lawyers  who  were  born 
and  raised  on  a  farm,  always  had  an  idea  that  he 
was  a  fine  farmer,  and  spent  much  of  the  iuoikw 
he  made  in  his  jiractice.  in  exiierimenting  u])on 
the  uncertain  results  of  getting  grain  out  of  the 
soil,  or  iirofit  out  of  cattle  and  hogs.  Like  most 
pi  ofessiimal  men  engaged  in  that  kind  of  busi¬ 
ness,  he  probably  kept  his  accounts  ])oorly,  and 
always  thought  he  made  money,  whether  he  did 
(U‘  not. 

judge  'rhornton  was  a  devout  follower  of 
llenry  C'lay  in  his  life  time,  and  a  whig  of  the 
C  la\  school  until  Clay  ceased  to  be  a  figure  in 
liolitics,  when  the  judge  became  a  democrat. 

lie  practiced  law  with  many  of  the  men 
who  gained  historic  re])utation  in  the  state  of 
Illinois.  He  practiced  on  the  circuit  before  Sidnev 
llreese,  Custav  Koerner,  Judge  David  Davis, 
Samuel  1'reat.  judge  (>allagher.  Rice,  \’ande- 
veer,  W'elsh,  Zane,  I’hillips,  Creighton  and  nianv 
others.  He  tried  cases  with  Lincoln,  \’andevcer. 
hicklin,  ( fglesby.  I{d  Laker,  J’almer,  Stewart, 
iMlwards,  Helen  and  many  others  whose  names 
are  familiar  to  the  older  members  of  the  jirofes- 
sion. 

His  life  long  rival  in  business  at  home  for 
nearly  fifty  years,  was  Samuel  W.  Moulton,  as 
hard  a  working,  close  thinking,  accurate  and  safe 
a  lawyer  as  ever  i)racticed  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

This  rivalry  hel])ed  to  make  both  of  them 
great  lawyers,  but  it  w’as  carried  beyond  emula¬ 
tion  in  business,  and  was  so  bitter  that  neither 


I  20 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


would  consent  to  the  otlier  j^-ettino^  office  where 
it  was  earned  and  well  deserved.  Except  when 
Jndf^e  '1  hornton  ran  for  judge  of  the  supreme 
court,  this  feeling  was  ever  dondnant. 

Save  for  this,  one  of  these  well  qualified  men, 
should  and  would  have  been  circuit  judge,  in¬ 
stead  of  inferior  men  from  other  counties  who 
I'rofited  hy  their  dislikes. 

They  both  went  to  congress  at  the  same 
time,  hut  this  rivalry  did  not  hurt,  as  Moulton 
ran  on  the  rei)uhlican  ticket  for  the  state  at  large, 
and  Thornton  as  a  democratic  candidate  in  the 
old  tenth  district. 

Judge  Thornton  in  his  practice  with  ,Mr. 
Moulton,  was  dis])Osed  to  belittle  his  o|)ponent, 
on  any  position  that  he  might  take  upon  both  the 
law  and  the  facts,  hut  he  learned  long  ago  to  re¬ 
spect  Moulton’s  o])inion  in  law,  and  his  ahilitv  to 
take  care  of  himself  in  a  law  suit. 

W’hen  these  (dd  men  were  young  men  in 
the  ])ractice,  they  rode  horseback  all  over  Shelby 
county  and  into  the  adjoining  counties  :  looking 
through  their  old  hooks  will  show  that  a  fee  of 
five  dollars  for  a  day  or  two  service,  iucludiug 
the  horse,  was  the  usual  compensation,  and  that 
was  frecpiently  paid  in  meat  or  something  to  live 
u])on.  h'ither  of  them  jirohahly  would  have  jire- 
ferred  to  take  and  try  a  case  for  nothing  rather 
than  permit  his  rival  to  win  a  case  without  an 
effort.  Judge  'rhornton's  nephew  and  former 
liartner,  .\.  ’1'.  Hall,  once  showed  me  his  old 
hooks,  showing  the  accounts  which  the  Judge 
had  made  for  services  rendered  for  ('icn.  W  in. 
E.  'rhornton,  who  was  the  leading  man  and 
inancier  in  Shelby  county  for  many  years. 

These  hooks  disclose  the  fact  that  a  fee  of 
from  two  dollars  and  a  half  to  ten  dollars  for 
foreclosing  a  mortgage,  was  the  amount  that 
compensated  a  great  lawyer  in  those  days. 

Judge  Thornton  was  in  jiartnershi])  with  .\n- 
thony  Hall,  his  nephew,  (jco.  T.  W  endling,  the 


famous  ])latform  orator.  11.  J.  Hamlin.  11.  I'. 
\\  ilson,  \\  m.  J.  Lloyd,  Judge  Hess.  W  .  ( ).  W'al- 
lace  and  W  m.  Ragan,  at  different  times,  hut  all 
of  his  partnershi])s  were  of  short  duration. 

-At  one  time  he  moved  to  the  city  of  Deca¬ 
tur,  where  he  remained  two  or  three  vears  in 
pai  tnershi])  with  a  couple  of  young  men  of  that 
city. 

At  another  time  he  gave  up  his  old  practice 
;  11(1  moved  to  his  old  home  in  Kentuckv.  He 
engaged,  in  the  last  year  of  the  war.  in  an  unfor¬ 
tunate  enterjirise,  in  the  woolen  business,  1)\ 
which  he  lost  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

He  was  a  man  of  ])eculiar  dispositiejn.  and 
it  was  owing  jirohahly  to  .some  of  his  w-eaknesses 
that  he  failed  to  reach  the  altitude  of  greatness 
to  which  his  talent  and  ability  entitled  him. 

He  was  in  his  iirinie  about  the  time  the  war 
hegan.  and  if  his  heart  and  feelings  had  jiermit- 
ted  him  to  fcjllow  the  lead  of  Ste])hen  .A.  Doug¬ 
las,  or  join  with  such  men  as  Gen.  Palmer  and 
('icn.  John  .\.  Logan,  Air.  Lincoln,  who  knew 
him  well  and  recognized  his  great  ahilitv.  would 
doubtless  have  been  glad  to  have  had  his  assist¬ 
ance.  and  he  could  have  given  the  judge  such  an 
office  or  place,  and  preferment,  that  his  great 
power  could  have  been  used  for  his  countrv's 
welfare,  and  his  name  would  have  been  forever 
among  the  <'/ther  ])atriots  who  did  .so  much  in 
that  time  of  great  trial  to  ^the  countrv.  to  save  it 
from  destruction. 

Judge  Thornton  is  a  very  remarkable  man. 
now  ])ast  eighty-six  years  of  age,  and  in  the 
active  and  remunerative  iiractice  of  his  chosen 
profession. 

\\  bile  his  ])hvsical  strength  is  lessened  hv 
age,  his  mental  ])owers  are  still  strong,  and  when 
interested  in  a  matter  under  his  charge,  his  mind 
seems  to  he  as  vigorous  as  it  was  forty  years  ago, 
and  his  voice  rings 'out  strong,  steady  and  clear, 
and  he  is  verily  the  "old  man  elocpient." 


I  2  I 


HIS  TOR  1C  SHE  TCH. 


I'cw  men  of  the  state  (jf  Illinois,  or  anywhere 
liave  l)een  before  tlie  ])nl)lie  as  lon^  as  jndj^e 
'I  hornton,  and  Jndf>e  Moidton  is  liis  close  sec¬ 
ond.  riiese  men  have  been  in  Shelby  comity, 
one  of  them  since  iS.^d,  sixty-six  years,  and  the 
other  since  1S50,  and  both  in  active  employment 
in  ])nl)lic  hnsiness. 

(  )n  Jnne  10,  iS(j8,  the  life-sized  jiortraits  of 
Indies  'riiornton  and  Moulton  were  unveiled  in 
the  court  house  in  vShelhyville. 

1  here  s>ive  yon  some  extracts  from  a  sketch, 
written  by  the  jndjj^e  himself,  after  he  was  past 
eij^hty-two  years  of  aj^e  : 

My  ancestors,  both  jiarental  and  maternal, 
were  from  I'.nj^land.  'Phey  emif^rated  to  \  irt^inia 
early  in  1600.  1  recollect  my  j.;randfather  very 

well,  for  1  lived  with  him  for  a  mnnher  of  years. 
My  qrand father  and  my  father  had  the  same 
Christian  name,  .\nthony.  which  has  descended 
to  me.  'I'liey  were  planters  in  \  ir<.jinia.  as  they 
were  called  in  those  days.  Amonj.^  my  j^rand- 
father’s  old  pa])ers  1  have  seen  a  i^ood  many 
consij.^nments  of  tobacco  to  Liverpool,  and  re¬ 
turned  invoices  of  family  stores  in  payment. 

Mv  .grandfather  and  my  father  with  their 
families  migrated  from  X’irg’inia  to  Kentucky  in 
the  vear  180S.  'I'he  entire  jiarty,  inchidin.i^ 
w  hites  and  nej^roes,  numbered  ninety-nine.  'I'liey 
canie  over  tlie  mountains  in  wa.£?ons,  carriages, 
and  on  horseliack.  'I'liey  left  Caroline  Count}’. 
\  irginia,  on  the  .Sth  of  October.  1808,  and 
reached  Ihnirbon  County.  Kentucky,  on  the 
16th  day  of  Xovember,  1808,  making  the  journey 
in  forty-two  days. 

My  grandfather  was  born  in  Caroline  Coun¬ 
ty.  V'ir.ginia,  on  the  18th  day  of  February,  1748. 
and  died  in  1830.  He  was  twice  married;  had 
one  son  by  his  first  wife,  and  ten  children,  five 
boys  and  five  girls,  by  liis  last  wife,  whose  maid¬ 
en  name  w'as  Marv  Rootis.  He  was  first  mar¬ 


ried  in  1768.  before  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age. 

He  had  the  title  of  colonel.  1  have  now  in 
my  ])osse.s.sion  a  commission,  dated  .\pril  ist. 
1785,  signed  by  Ratrick  Henry,  then  governor 
of  \  irginia,  ajipointing  him  ‘‘Comity  Lieutenant 
of  the  militia  of  Caroline  County.'  'I'lie  com¬ 
mission  bears  the  genuine  si.gnature  of  Ratrick 
1  Ienr\’,  the  .greatest  orator  of  "(  )ld  X’ir.ginia." 
It  is  printed  on  rongh,  coarse  paper  without  the 
seal  of  the  state.  A  wafer  is  used  for  a  seal.  'I'liis 
w  as  before  \  irginia  had  ado])ted  her  present  seal, 
with  the  proud  motto.  "Sic  Semper  'Pyrannis." 

\\  hen  the  large  party  of  ninety-nine  reached 
the  fertile  buds  of  Kentucky,  a  settlement  was 
made  in  .X'icholas  county,  .\fterwards  my  grand¬ 
father  ])urchased  about  five  hundred  acres  of 
land  lyin.g  in  Rxnirbon  and  Harrison  comities, 
within  two  and  a  half  miles  of  RnddePs  Mills. 
\\  hen  1  was  a  boy  there  were  numerous  distiller¬ 
ies  for  the  manufacture  of  wdiisky  around  there, 
and  1  have  often  heard  it  said  that  there  was 
some  peculiarity  in  the  water  of  a  certain  spring 
near  RuddePs  Mills  from  wdiich  the  best  and  jnir- 
est  whisky  in  Kentucky  was  made.  I  lived  on 
the  above  farm  after  my  father’s  death  for  about 
twelve  years. 

My  father  bought  a  farm  on  Cane  Ridge, 
in  IfourboTi  county,  six  miles  east  of  Raris,  the 
county  seat.  'Phere  he  lived  until  his  death.  My 
father  was  liorn  in  X'irginia  on  the  24th  day  of 
Hecemher,  1775,  so  that  he  was  a  child  at  the 
time  of  our  great  stru.ggle  for  Xational  Inde¬ 
pendence.  Pie  W'as  a  native  of  Caroline  county. 

My  mother,  whose  maiden  name  w'as  Mary 
'Powles,  was  liorn  in  S])otsylvania  county.  \'ir- 
.ginia,  on  the  29th  day  of  March,  1777.  'Phey 
were  married  in  Spotsylvania  county,  on  the  16th 
of  .April,  1802.  'Phey  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
1  am  the  only  survivor.  My  father  died  on  his 
farm  on  the  20th  day  of  Xovember,  1819.  in  the 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


\  io^(ir  of  his  manluxxl,  when  he  was  only  forty- 
four  years  of  age.  At  that  time  a  virulent  fever 
prevailed  in  Kentucky,  of  which  he  died.  .My 
mother  died  on  the  14th  of  July.  1820.  in  giving 
!)irth  to  a  child  which  never  saw  either  father 
or  mother.  .\t  the  death  of  my  father  and 
mother  they  left  eight  living  children,  five  hoys 
and  three  girls.  The  hoys  and  the  youngest 
girls  were  taken  to  my  grandfather’s ;  the  two 
oldest  girls  went  to  live  with  Judge  Mills  in 
I’aris.  Kentucky,  who  married  my  father’s  sister. 
'1  hus  a  numerous  and  haj)])}'  family  was  sejrarat- 
ed  by  the  rnthlcss  hand  of  death,  never  to  he  re¬ 
united  in  this  world. 

.My  sister.  iMizaheth  Smith,  married  I’enja- 
min  Keiningham  of  I’aris.  Kentucky,  a  mer¬ 
chant.  They  left  two  children.  .My  sister.  Cath¬ 
arine  Presley,  married  John  W'.  Mall,  a  Presby¬ 
terian  minister,  a  fine  scholar  and  an  elociuent 
preacher.  'I'hey  left  three  children.  My  brother. 
'I'homas  'I'owles.  married  Rebecca  W  arfield  of 
Lexington.  Kentucky.  He  left  one  child,  a 
daughter.  He  was  a  ])romising  young  lawyer 
of  f’aris.  but  died  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  with 
a  brilliant  future  before  him.  Truly,  how  in¬ 
scrutable  are  the  ways  of  Providence!  My 
brother.  John  Rootes.  died  in  1875.  He  left  one 
son.  I  have  three  living  and  one  dead.  .Ml  the 
rest  of  my  brothers  and  sisters  died  without  any 
children  surviving  them.  W'e  were  widely  sep¬ 
arated  in  life,  hut  have  the  ho])e  of  a  ha])i)y  re¬ 
union  in  a  better  world. 

1  was  born  on  my  father’s  farm,  si.x  miles 
east  of  Paris,  on  the  pth  day  of  .\ovember,  1814. 
I  was.  therefore,  five  years  and  eleven  days  old 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  in  about  seven 
months  thereafter,  when  my  mother  died,  six  of 
the  children  were  taken  to  my  grandfather’s.  1 
cannot  rememher  my  mother,  but  have  a  distinct 
recollection  of  mv  father. 


I  can  recollect  him  on  horseback  and  about 
the  house.  He  was  a  tall  and  spare  man.  with 
lair  and  ruddy  complexion  and  brown  hair.  He 
was  a  good  scholar,  and  wrote  a  fair  and  legible 
hand.  I  have  some  of  his  books  in  which  his 
name  is  written.  His  farm  was  in  the  heart  of 
the  beautiful  and  fertile  blue  grass  region  of 
Kentucky.  With  a  loved  wife  and  numerous 
children,  his  future  was  bright  for  hai)piness  and 
wealth.  P>ut  cruel  death  darkened  the  ha])])v 
home,  and  severed  the  sacred  ties  of  husband  and 
wife,  and  father  and  children. 

■At  five  years  of  age  I  was  taken  from  m\ 
childhood  s  home.  1  labored  on  the  farm ; 
plowed,  cut  grain' with  the  sickle,  cut  wood,  and 
performed  other  work  until  1  was  about  sixteen. 
.\t  my  grandfather’s  death  he  left  his  farm  to 
Aunt  Lucy  during  her  life.  1  continued  to  live 
with  her.  and  went  occasionally  to  a  conntrv 
school.  In  my  boyhood  the  schools  in  the  coun¬ 
try  were  kei)t  in  houses  built  of  hewn  logs;  the 
door  was  laid  with  i)nncheons.  logs  split ;  and 
the  benches  on  which  we  s:a  were  also  of  ])un- 
cheons.  '1  here  were  no  windows,  but  a  log  was 
cut  out  to  give  light.  I  had  only  two  teachers 
in  my  earliest  schooling.  (  )ne  was  a  Presbvter- 
ian  minister,  who  su])])lemented  his  meagre  sal¬ 
ary  with  the  pittance  he  obtained  bv  teaching. 
'I'he  other  was  a  candidate  for  the  ministrv.  and 
taught  school  to  obtain  monev  to  aid  him  in  the 
theological  studies.  'I'lie  latter  teacher  was  a 
good  man.  and  a  good  scholar,  but  a  great  odd¬ 
ity.  He  was  rigid  in  disci])line  and  used  the  rod. 
or  switch,  on  all  occasions.  I  had  m\  skin  often 
cut  and  brnised,  and  welts  made  on  me  that  did 
not  disapi)ear  for  weeks.  'I'he  bovs  would  fre- 
([uently  trick  him  in  regard  to  the  switches.  ( )ur 
school  house  was  in  a  dense  wood  where  grew 
a  grctit  many  trees  c  died  iron-wood.  These 
trees  had  long.  tai)ering  switches  ;is  lough  as 
wlialebonc.  'I'he  teacher  would  send  the  bovs 


HIS  TORIC  SHE  TCH. 


to  procure  switelies,  and  they  witli  a  keen  knife 
would  carefully  cut  the  switches  every  few  iuehes. 
so  that  with  the  first  stroke  they  would  break 
into  a  nuiuher  of  ])ieces.  The  teacher  always 
ojjened  and  closed  school  with  prayer. 

1  lived  on  uiy  grandfather’s  farm  from  18^0 
until  1831;  labored  on  the  farm  and  attended 
school  until  1  had  acapiired  the  rudimeut.s  of  an 
hhif>iish  education  and  a  smatterini^  of  Latin. 
'I  here  were  always  ten  white  ])ersons  in  the  fam¬ 
ily  until  my  iprandfather’s  death,  and  about  one 
hundred  Xei^roes.  There  were  only  eig’ht  rooms 
in  the  house,  and  1  have  often  thouj^ht,  in  mind, 
of  the  family,  and  company  almost  constant,  how 
so  many  people  could  be  eared  for  and  bedded 
in  .so  small  a  house.  The  Xe.ifroes.  of  course, 
occu])ied  their  own  cabins.  I'rom  Christmas 
hive  until  .Xew  ^’ear’s  day  the  house  was  always 
well  tilled,  and  joy  and  feastinjf  were  the  order 
of  the  holiday.  W  e  had  indeed  a  joyous  time 
to  wdiich  memory  often  fondly  recurs.  'I'he 
-Xei^roes  did  not  labor  durinj^  the  holidays,  and 
they  had,  cousecpiently,  a  j^ood  time.  1  can 
never  forj^et  the  "corn  shuckings."  A  "ood  sup- 
lier  and  a  dram  of  ])ure  whisky  awaited  the  end 
of  the  work.  The  Xetjro  is  naturally  musical, 
and  on  these  occasions  the  siuiymg  was  grand 
and  melodious. 

W’e  had  a  peculiar  mode  of  threshing  grain. 
.\  circular  track  w  as  made  smooth  and  firm  ;  the 
w  heat,  rye  or  oats  were  put  upon  it,  and  then 
the  boys  would  mount  a  horse  and  lead  four, 
two  on  each  side.  Round  and  round  they  would 
go  until  the  grain  was  threshed.  Cpon  the  re¬ 
moval  of  the  straw,  the  ground  was  covered  with 
the  grain. 

(  )nr  sugar  making,  too,  was  glorious  fun. 
My  grandfather  had  a  sugar  orchard  of  over 
one  thousand  trees.  The  sweet  water,  the 
glowing  furnace  with  a  dozen  large  kettles  bub¬ 


bling,  the  delieious  syrup,  the  ash  pone,  and 
broiled  bacon,  made  a  grand  sight  and  a  glor¬ 
ious  feast. 

"Ah!  hajipy  years!  once  more  who  would 
not  be  a  boy?” 

W  bile  rigid  obedience  was  exacted  of  the 
Xegro  in  the  early  days  of  slavery,  he  was  treated 
with  kindness  and  eousideration  ;  was  well  fed 
and  well  elothed.  and  well  cared  for  in  sickness. 
.\11  the  house  servants  regularly  attended  pray¬ 
ers,  morning  and  evening.  b?very  Sunday  both 
whites  and  blacks  went  to  a  1 ’resbyterian  church 
at  Ruddel’s  Mills,  and  remained  for  the  fore¬ 
noon  services.  The  Sunday  school  for  whites 
was  in  the  morning,  and  for  the  Xegroes  in  the 
t  fteruGon.  Slavery  was  then  in  its 
mildest  form,  and  its  mischiefs  affected  the 
white  more  than  the  black  race. 

\\  ith  an  abundance  of  work,  and  hunting 
and  fishing,  (we  had  a  goo<l  snpi)ly  of  game), 
I  became  a  robust  boy,  and  was  almost  fully 
grown  at  16  years  of  age.  Kentuekians  at  that 
time  constituted  an  unusually  tall  race.  I  went 
to  school  with  a  number  of  girls  who  were  six 
feet  in  height.  W'e  hunted  a  great  deal  at  night. 
]ninci])ally  coons  and  opossums. 

Hut  my  boyhood  days  abru])tly  ended.  I 
was  determined  to  obtain  an  education,  if  possi¬ 
ble.  My  share  in  my  father’s  estate  w'as  not 
large ;  indeed  barely  enough  to  afford  me  an 
education.  My  guardian,  John  Rootis  'J'horn- 
ton,  of  Paris.  Kentucky,  a  good  man  and  a  good 
law'yer,  insisted  that  1  should  engage  as  a  clerk- 
in  a  store,  and  thus  fit  myself  for  the  mercantile 
business.  I  demurred  to  such  an  arrangement. 
W  ith  dogged  jiersistence  I  claimed  that  a  thor¬ 
ough  education  would  fit  me  for  any  ]K)sition. 
and  I  was  willing  to  expend  my  ])atrimony  to 
procure  it.  1  probably  should  have  failed  in  my 
desire  but  for  the  intercession  of  my  sister,  Cath¬ 
arine,  w'ho  then  lived  in  Tennessee,  and  was  on 


124 


HIS  TORIC  SHE  TCH. 


a  visit  to  Kentucky.  Slie  said  there  was  a  most 
e.xeellent  ])reparatory  seliool  where  she  lived, 
and,  if  I  would  go  and  live  with  her  she  would 
hoard  me  and  make  no  eharge.  so  that  1  should 
have  the  expense  of  elothing  and  tuition  only, 
lienee  in  June.  1831,  1  took  the  old  stage  eoach 
at  Paris  and  traveled  alone,  night  and  day.  to 
my  sister’s  in  ('.allatin,  Tennessee.  I  lived  there 
in  1831  and  part  of  1832;  attended  a  fine  school 
preparatory  to  going  to  a  college  at  Xashville. 
I'ennessee,  hut  finally  determined,  with  the  con¬ 
sent  of  a  guardian,  to  go  to  Danville,  Kentucky, 
to  a  college  called  Center  College.  I  was  there 
something  over  a  year,  and  in  the  latter  part  of 
1833  I  made  a  change  again  and  went  to  ( )xford, 
( )hio,  to  the  Miami  Cmversity,  where  1  graduat¬ 
ed  and  received  a  diploma  m  Sejitemher,  1834. 

I  had  a  ha])py  time  m  Tennessee.  1  visited 
the  Hermitage  and  greatly  enjoyed  the  beautiful 
scenery  of  the  Cumberland  river.  I  had  an 
agreeable  time  at  college  with  both  teachers  and 
])upils.  When  1  graduated,  1  was  a  good  Latin 
and  Greek  scholar,  and  could  read  both  German 
and  French. 

.\fter  graduation  1  went  back  to  Paris.  Ken¬ 
tucky,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law  with 
my  uncle,  John  K.  'riiornton.  (  )n  the  23rd  of 
.\ugust,  1836,  I  obtained  a  license  to  practice  law 
from  (>eorge  Robertson  and  'riiomas  .\.  Mar¬ 
shall.  Judges  of  the  Court  of  .\])])eals  of  Ken¬ 
tucky.  'I'hev  e.xamined  me  for  three  separate 
days  before  they  would  grant  me  a  license. 

In  ( fetober,  1836.  I  left  Kentucky  and 
started  to  settle  in  Missouri.  \\  hen  1  got  to  St. 
Louis.  I  remembered  1  had  an  aunt  in  Sangamon 
county.  Illinois,  and  thought  1  would  go  and 
see  her.  I  ti)ok  a  boat  at  St.  Louis  and  w  ent  up 
the  Illinois  river  to  .Meredosia.  and  there  1  rode 
on  the  first  railroad,  made  with  a  fiat  iron  bar 
for  a  rail,  and  pulled  bv  two  mules,  whicb 
brought  me  to  Jacksonville.  Illinois,  fi'hen  1  took' 


a  stage  to  S])ringfield.  and  visited  my  aunt  for  a 
week  or  two.  'I  here  1  heard  of  General  'I'horn- 
ton  and  his  family  living  in  Shelbvville.  and  con¬ 
cluded  1  would  visit  them,  as  1  had  never  seen 
them  before.  So  in  (  )ctober,  1836.  1  came  to 
Shelby ville.  Illinois,  and  as  there  was  onlv  one 
lawyer  here.  Daniel  (iregory,  who  afterwards 
died  in  \  andalia,  I  concluded  to  abandon  the 
trip  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Shelbvville.  and 
I  have  been  a  citizen  of  tins  ])lace  with  the  ex- 
ce])tion  of  a  few  years  uj)  to  the  present  time. 

d  he  sessions  of  the  legislature  of  lllimjis 
were  then  held  in  \  andalia.  and  in  December, 
183b.  I  went  from  Shelby  ville  to  \  andalia  to  see 
the  legislature  and  su])reme  court,  and  there  on 
the  13th  of  December.  1836,  I  obtained  a  license 
to  practice  law  from  'I'liomas  C.  Prown  and  Wil¬ 
liam  \\  ilson,  two  Judges  of  the  Sn|)reme  court. 
I  remained  in  N’andalia  about  a  month,  and  1 
saw  Mr.  Lincoln  for  the  first  time,  also  (  ).  11. 
I'icklin.  I'sher  I'.  Linder.  (  Irville  11.  llrowning. 
of  Onincx.  Illinois.  General  IGving,  Jefferson 
Gatewood,  and  a  number  of  other  distinguished 
men  of  the  state  at  that  time. 

During  the  time  I  s])ent  at  X’andalia.  there 
was  gambling  all  over  the  town  every  night,  and 
sometimes  during  the  day:  ])oker  plaving.  rou¬ 
lette  tables,  and  almost  every  device  for  gamb¬ 
ling.  and  li((uor  was  sold  everywhere.  'I'o  me 
this  was  a  novel  scene,  for  1  had  never  witnessed 
the  like  in  my  life  before.  Just  before  1  left 
N'andalia  a  severe  eiiidemic  jirevailed  whieh 
affected  the  throat,  and  was  fatal  in  a  great  main 
instances.  1  became  somewhat  alarmed  and  anx¬ 
ious  to  get  away,  but  it  was  impossible  to  get  anv 
conveyance  from  \  andalia.  'I'liere  were  no  rail¬ 
roads.  and  only  a  wagon  carrying  the  mail  twice 
a  week  from  N'andalia  to  vShelbyville.  Just  ahont 
the  time  1  was  so  anxious  to  get  awa\’.  in  Janu¬ 
ary,  1837.  a  heavy  rainfall  came,  and  the  whole 
countrx  was  a  sheet  of  ice  three  or  four  inehes 


HIS  TOR  1C  SHE  TCH. 


thick,  so  tliat  it  was  almost  imi)ossil)k'  to  travel. 
.\t  last  to  my  threat  joy,  a  gentleman  now  livilii,'’ 
in  Mattoon,  iCbtmczcr  Xoyes,  reached  X’amhdia 
from  St.  konis,  ridinj;'  a  little  ])ony.  lie  was  a 
merchant  on  W  hitley  creek  in  what  is  now  Alonl- 
trie  connt\',  Illinois,  lie  h;ul  been  to  St.  Lonis 
to  hn\  ,”'oo(ls,  and  havinj^'  formed  his  ac(|nain- 
tance  ;it  Shell)} wille,  ;is  soon  as  1  met  him,  1  per¬ 
suaded  him  to  trv  ;md  hrinj^  me  lu)me,  lie  said 
he  wonld  do  so,  and  he  w  ent  into  the  woods  and 
ent  some  hickoiw  pi)les,  and  with  them  and  a 
o'oods  box,  made  a  sled.  W  e  fixed  np  a  harness, 
and  he  and  1  rode  home  to  vShelhy ville  on  that 
box,  i)nlled  hV  the  pony,  on  the  solid  ice  all  the 
w  ay. 

After  mv  return  from  N’andalia  1  o|)ened  an 
office  in  Shelhyville  ;md  commeneed  the  i)rac- 
tice  of  law  .  There  was  no  other  lawyver  here  at 
the  time  hnt  Daniel  (iregoiw-,  and.  of  course,  1 
had  one  side  of  ever}'  case,  d'here  was  a  ”'ood 
deal  of  liti_ijation  of  a  small  character,  and  the 
fees  woidd  ranj.;'e  from  $2.50  to  $25,  hnt  rarel}' 
the  latter  snm. 

d  he  first  jndf.t'e  before  whom  1  practiced  wtis 
S\dnev  llreese,  who  livect  at  Carl}le.  and  who 
was  afterwards  for  over  twenty  years  upon  the 
sipneme  bench,  and  a  mend)er  of  the  I'nited 
v^tates  Senate  from  Illinois.  lie  was  a  fine 
scholar,  a  profound  lawyer,  a  model  judit^e.  1 
have  not  known  ;  ny  man  who  i)resided  in  the 
court  house  with  such  ease  and  dijjtnity,  readiness 
and  learnins>'.  'I'he  other  judf^es  who  held  court 
duriipsy  my  early  practice  were  Judj^e  'I'reat, 
lud^e  Ihiderwood,  Jud^e  Koerner,  Judjje  David 
Davis,  jndt;e  Constable,  Judt^e  Harlan,  Judtfe 
Wilson,  Judge  Shields,  and  judge  Hmersou. 
'I'hev  were  all  good  lawyers  and  highl}'  honor¬ 
able  men. 

The  princi])al  lawyers  at  the  bar  in  my  early 
practice  were  Csher  I'.  Linder  and  ( ).  IS.  Fieklin, 
of  Charleston:  A.  15.  I'ield,  Ferris  Foreman  and 


Levi  1  )avis.  of  X’andalia  tCharles  ILuerstni,  ixirhy 
ISenedict,  Seth  i’ost  and  ISrower  ISunn,  of  De¬ 
catur;  James  Al.  Davis,  generally  called  "Long 
Jim,"  and  IL  A'.  Rice,  of  llillshoro;  Judge  \  an- 
deveer,  of  Taylorville :  Ivdward  1).  ISaker,  of 
.Springfield,  and  occasionall}  Air.  Idneoln  would 
come  to  Shelhvville.  1  also  met  him  011  the  cir- 
ctnt  almost  every  sjiring  and  fall  for  a  great 
mail}  years. 

I'rom  1S36  until  tihout  iSgf)  we  rode  to  all 
the  courts  on  horseback.  'I'here  were  scarcel} 
ail}  public  highways  and  we  would  strike 
through  the  countr}'  from  timber  to  timber,  and. 
rosin  weed  in  the  ])rairie,  which  jiointed  north 
if  it  was  cloudy,  we  would  then  he  guided  by  the 
and  sotitli.  'I'here  were  few  law  hooks  in  the 
country  at  that  time.  In  some  of  the  towms 
where  the  courts  were  held,  there  were  reallv  no 
hooks,  and  the  lawx  ers  would  carry  in  their  sad¬ 
dle  bags  some  work  u])on  evidence  or  pleading, 
and  we  argued  cases  entirely  u])on  ])rinciple.  'I'he 
lawyers  whom  I  have  named,  and  others,  were 
all  well  read  in  the  law.  highly  honorable  gentle¬ 
men,  courteous  to  each  other,  and  the  life  on  the 
circuit  with  such  men  was  very  enjoyable.  Lin¬ 
coln.  Linder,  and  Fieklin  were  great  story  tellers, 
and,  after  the  adjournment  of  court  in  the  even¬ 
ing,  they  would  entertain  the  crowd  by  telling 
stories  almost  every  night  until  past  midnight. 

W  hen  1  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in 
this  state,  the  only  report  of  the  adjudged  cases 
was  a  small  volume  by  Judge  ISreese.  After¬ 
wards  Air.  Foreman  of  A'andalia,  published  a 
small  volume  of  the  reports.  'I'he  statutes  were, 
however,  few  and  easily  understood,  hut  we  had 
no  re])orts  to  guide  us  until  Air.  Scammon  com¬ 
menced  the  publication  of  Scammon’s  Reports. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  at  this  early  period 
in  the  history  of  the  state  the  law  was  adminis¬ 
tered,  not  upon  adjudicated  cases,  but  upon  the 
princi])les  in  the  elementary  books.  In  the  argu- 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


nicnts  before  tlie  court  no  judge  ever  inciuired 
for  a  case  iii  point,  but  the  principles  of  tlie  coin- 
niou  law  were  ap])lie(l  to  the  facts  as  they  were 
developed  by  the  testimony  ;  hence  the  ])ractice 
was  much  easier  than  at  present,  and  the  labor 
less,  if  the  lawyer  w'as  well  versed  in  the  ])rinci- 
ples  of  common  law. 

1  have  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  for  over 
sixty  years.  I  was  always  a  w  hig  in  politics  until 
1S56.  M  \-  first  vote  was  for  (General  llarrison  in 
1S40.  'I'hat  was  a  memorable  canpiaign. 
"d'ijipecanoe  and  'I'yler  too”  was  the  slogan 
everywhere.  I'he  peo])le  seemed  wild.  'I'hey 
would  go  from  meeting  to  meeting,  and  from 
county  to  c'onnty  in  immense  crowds.  W  agons 
were  to  be  seen  everywhere  along  the  roads, 
drawn  bv  six  and  eight  yoke  of  oxen,  and  rilled 
with  bright,  pretty  girls;  in  the  middle  a  log 
cabin,  and  at  the  end  a  barrel  of  cider,  free  to  all. 

1  was  an  active  speaker  in  the  campaign  of 
1840  for  Harrison;  in  the  camjiaign  of  1844  for 
Clay;  in  the  campaign  of  1848  for  'Taylor;  and 
in  the  canpiaign  of  1852  for  Scott. 

In  June,  1856,  I  made  an  ap|)ointment  to 
pronounce  m\  first  democratic  speech  in  the  old 
court  house  in  Shelby\  ille.  'There  were  but  few 
re])nblicaiis  in  Sheib\  comity  at  that  time. 
Slavery,  and,  intimately  connected  with  it,  the 
Nebraska  bill,  was  the  princi])al  (|nestion  for 
discussion.  .\  committee  waited  upon  me  and 
reipiested  a  joint  discussion,  to  which  I  asseiiteil. 
(  )ii  the  apiiointcd  dav  Mr.  Ihncohi  appeared.  I 
had  then  known  him  well  for  mam  years.  .\s 
it  was  my  meeting,  and,  as  a  matter  of  courtesy. 
I  consented  that  Mr.  Idncohi  should  ojien  the 
discnssimi.  lie  commenced  at  1  o'clock  and 
spoke  until  nearly  5.  Me  knew  he  was  address- 
ing  |)eo])le  w  ho  svm|)athized  with  the  south,  and 
he  made  a  most  ingenious  and  plausible  speech, 
lie.  however,  spoke  so  very  long  that  I  became 
apprehensive  as  to  anv  effort  1  might  make  to  a 


wearied  crowd.  1  began  niv  reply  by  telling  one 
of  .Mr.  Lincoln's  stories,  and  thus  obtained  the 
attention  of  the  crowd,  and  made  a  short  speech. 
'The  meeting  was  a  pleasant  one.  We  jiarted 
with  the  kindlic'st  feelings,  and  that  was  the  last 
iniblic  speech  I  ever  heard  .Mr.  Lincoln  make. 

Ill  i8f;()  1  was  one  of  the  democratic  elec¬ 
tors.  and  had  thirteen  joint  discussions  with 
Leoiiaid  ,8wa'tt.  then  of  Ulooniiiigton.  and  who 
a.fterwards  died  in  Chicago,  lie  was  the  fairest, 
ablest,  most  pleasant  and  courteous  gentleman  I 
e\er  encountered  in  jinblic  discussion. 

I  kiu-w  all  the  governors  of  the  state  from 
janu's  I  )nncan  in  183(1  to  the  present  time.  'The 
lirst  appointnunt  I  ever  had  was  from  ('lovenior 
Carlin.  I  le  appointed  me  as  major  in  the  militia. 

Ivarly  lifi-  in  Illinois  was  rongh.  but  ])leas- 
ant.  'The  peoph-  were  generous  and  hos])itable  ; 
free  and  eas\  in  their  manners;  rough  in  dress, 
but  honest  and  honorable  in  all  their  dealings. 
'There  was  very  little  crime.  Lights  were  fre- 
(|nent.  but  no  jiistol,  knife,  chib,  or  deadly 
weapon  was  e\er  used.  'Tlu'  fist  and  the  foot 
were  tlu-  only*  agents  to  revenge  a  fancied  in¬ 
sult.  W  hen  the  right  was  over,  and  no  ])erson 
seriously  injnied,  reconciliation  ensued,  and  a 
diink'  of  whisky  all  around  seah-d  the  peace. 

Lroiii  183(1  to  almost  the  year  1850  we  had 
freipient  "house  raisings  and  "barn  raisings." 
and  wolf  limits,  and  horse  racing,  and  sjiort  of 
every  character.  W  e  would  often  collect  to  the 
nninber  of  from  one  to  two  hundred  and  kill 
sipiirrels;  meet  at  noon  and  barbecue  them,  and 
a  luscious  feast  was  the  result.  'The  sipiirrels 
were  so  mimerons  that  we  were  conpielleil  to 
kill  them  to  save  the  coni  from  destrnction.  W  e 
used  only  the  rille.  (  )n  one  of  these  hnnts  f 
killed  rift\-tw(i  sipiirrels  one  morning  in  the  sec¬ 
tion  east  of  Shelbyville.  Deer,  turkey,  and 
jirairie  chickens  were  in  great  abnndance.  f 


I  2‘ 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


liavc*  scon  lifty  dccr  in  a  drove,  and  t^anjL^s  of 
wolves  to  the  mnnher  t)f  a  dozen  or  more. 

h'roin  ahont  uS^S  to  0X70  I  had  a  ret^nlar 
deer  hunt  every  fall,  when  we  wonld  eani])  in  the 
woods  from  ten  days  to  a  month.  .\t  the  "rais¬ 
ings,"  which  were  attended  hy  the  neighbors 
for  ten  miles  around,  we  had  a  snhstantial  dinner 
and  ^sni)])er,  and  the  old  eoni)let  \\;is  snn_”'  and 
practiced  : 

"W’e’ll  dance  all  ni}.>’ht 

’'I'ill  broad  day-lii^ht, 

.\nd  qo  home  with  the  i^als  in  the  morninj^." 

\\  hen  I  located  in  vShelhy ville  it  contained 
ahont  two  hundred  peo])le.  Laiytie  oak  stnm]).s 
stood  in  the  ])nhlie  scinare  now  frontinj^  onr 
eonrt  house.  In  front  of  the  I'irst  Xational  hank 
hnildiii”'  was  a  ravine  of  the  depth  of  at  least 
lifteeii  feet.  (  )n  the  lot  where  the  hank  huildini^ 
now  stands  there  was  an  old  horse  mill.  'I'lie 
])lat  of  Crane  and  Stevenson’s  addition  was  a 
forest  covered  with  heantifnl  and  magnificent 
elms  and  snjyar  trees.  1  have  often  killed  scjuir- 
rels  there,  and  for  years  we  used  the  beautiful 
_<^ro\e  for  meetin5.(s  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  har- 
heenes,  which  were  frecpient.  'I'he  entire  town 
was  from  Ifrewster's  hill  west  to  the  residences 
of  C'onn  r.rothers,  and  from  Second  street  north 
to  Second  street  south.  .\11  the  business  houses, 
taverns  and  saloons  were  around  the  scpiare.  'I'he 
houses  were  built  mostly  of  loiti's.  Ca])tain  John 
'I'ackett  kejit  tavern  in  a  loj.;'  house  where  the 
"'ralhnan"  is  now  situated.  Reuben  Writ^ht, 
father  of  W  illiam  and  David  W  ri,4ht.  kept  tavern 
in  a  loj>'  house  on  the  corner  west  of  the  iiresent 
court  house.  It  seems  a  dreary  and  dismal  ])lace 
to  look  back  upon  in  view  of  the  jiroj^ress  since 
those  days,  ^’et  we  enjoyed  life.  There  were 
a  ,4-oodly  number  of  young  jieople  of  both  sexes, 
ready  for  a  ride,  a  frolic,  or  a  dance.  Though 
I  never  had  anv  car  for  music,  and  never  could 


tell  one  tune  from  another,  and  must  be  con¬ 
demned  to  the  ban  ])ronounced  by  Shakesjieare — 

"'1  he  man  that  hath  no  music  in  himself 

Xor  is  not  moved  with  concord  of  sweet 
sounds. 

Is  fit  for  treasons,  stratagems  and  spoils," — 

yet  I  attended  all  the  gatherings,  and  walked 
through  the  dances.  At  one  time  1  was  dancing 
with  Mrs.  Lufkin,  then  .Miss  Lncia  Smith,  and 
one  of  our  brightest  girls,  when  the  string  of 
the  fiddle  broke  ;  1  kept  right  on  without  an\’ 
music,  though  all  the  dancers  had  stopped,  until 
the  general  laugh  at  my  ex])ense  made  me  real¬ 
ize  the  situation.  'I'lie  music  had  no  effect  on 
me. 

Xotw  ithstandmg  the  hunts  and  frolics.  1 
devoted  a  large  part  of  every  day  to  the  study  of 
my  profession.  I  had  voluntarilv  chosen  this 
])role.ssion  w  ith  the  fixed  determination  to  make 
a  good  lawyer  of  myself.  'I'o  what  extent  I  ma\' 
have  succeeded,  nn'  clients  and  contenpioraries 
must  answer.  I  am  not  vain  enough  to  suppose 
that  posterity  will  trouble  itself  very  much  as  to 
my  character  as  a  lawyer. 

I  do  not  think  it  is  assumption  to  say  that 
I  feel,  after  a  contmnous  practice  of  nearly  sixtv 
years,  I  have  made  a  safe,  successfid,  and  relia¬ 
ble  lawyer,  l-'or  more  than  half  a  century  I  have 
been  a  close  student  for  sixteen  hours  a  dav, 
read  faithfully,  and  pondered  intently  the  prinei- 
jiles  of  the  common  law.  My  aim  has  ever  been 
to  comprehend  fully  the  case  presented,  examine 
it  carefully,  apply  well-known  ])rinci])les  to  the 
facts,  and  then  give  an  opinion.  Hence,  1  have 
rarel\'  failed  of  success  in  the  suits  1  ha\e 
brought.  It  is  not  only  a  blunder,  bnt  a  crime, 
to  advise  a  client  into  litigation  when  a  favor¬ 
able  result  is  not  a])parent.  'I'lius  influenced,  and 
with  nnmerons  good  friends  from  the  beginning 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


of  niy  liunihlc  career,  niv  sneeess  in  suits,  and 
tlie  retention  of  clients,  have  ])een  eminently 
satisfactory. 

.  In  our  early  practice  we  “rode  the  circuit," 
as  it  was  called.  For  a  nninher  of  years  we  rode 
on  horse-hack  from  county  to  county,  .\fter- 
ward.  w  hen  we  had  accpiired  money  enough  to 
buy  a  hnggy.  and  the  roads  had  become  some¬ 
what  improved,  we  traveled  the  "circuit"  in  bug¬ 
gies.  The  lawyers  1  almost  uniformly  met  in 
s(;me  of  the  counties  in  which  I  attended  the 
courts,  were  .\.  1’.  I'ield  of  N'andalia,  "1-ong 
Jim"  1  )avis  of  llillsboro,  Linder  and  I'icklin  of 
C'harleston,  hhnerson,  llenedict.  Lost  and  llmm 
of  Decatur,  and  Lincoln.  In  the  eastern  comi¬ 
ties,  Constable  of  .Marshall,  and  Dan  \’orhees  of 
'I'erre  Haute  generally  attended.  In  some  of  the 
counties  we  occasionally  had  Judge  Rice  of  1  lills- 
boro  and  Levi  Davis  of  X'andalia.  1  attended, 
for  several  terms  of  court,  in  eleven  countie.s — 
Loud,  Montgomery,  h'ayette.  I'.fiingham.  Sbel- 
by.  Christian.  .Moultrie,  .Macon.  Liatt.  Coles  and 
I'.dgar. 

(  )f  all  the  law  yers  w  hom  1  ever  met.  Lin¬ 
coln  was  the  most  marked  for  his  fairness  and 
honesty.  Me  was  always  earnest  and  forcible, 
and  could  managi-  and  present  a  good  case  with 
as  much  pow  er  and  clearness  as  any  man  1  ever 
saw. 

'This  traveling  on  the  circuit  was  verv  pleas¬ 
ant.  'I'he  lawyers  were  genial,  and  the  “very 
])ink  of  courtesy."  'I  he  mode  of  life  had  so  much 
variety  as  to  ])reclude  monotonv.  W’e  met  new 
faces  every  w  i-ek  ;  were  often  entertained  with 
racy  incidents,  and  were  encountered  with  novel 
and  laughable  cases.  There  was  no  attempt  at 
display  in  dress,  but  everybody  wore  plain 
clothes,  adapted  to  the  rough  life  on  the  fron¬ 
tier.  .Speaking  of  dress  reminds  me  of  a  circum¬ 
stance  when  I  first  came  to  Illinois.  In  Ken¬ 
tucky  young  men.  who  could  afford,  were  in- 


cliiual  to  be  fond  of  dress.  \\  hen  I  came  west. 
I  had  only  a  few  hundred  dollars,  some  law 
books,  and  a  dress  suit  of  blue  cloth,  with  bright 
gilt  buttons.  .My  shirts  were  all  ruffled,  that  is, 
a  piece  of  hue  muslin,  gathered  in  folds,  was 
sewed  on  the  bo.som  of  each  shirt,  and  protruded 
about  an  inch  outside  the  vest.  When  1  saw  the 
])lain  clothing  of  the  people,  the  linsey-woolsev 
dresses  of  the  women,  and  the  coon-skin  cajis. 
the  buck-skin  and  jean  breeches  and  coats  of 
the  men.  I  cut  off’  my  gilt  buttons  and  rnflles, 
and  ada.pted  my  dress  to  the-  conditions  around 
me. 

In  those  early  days  it  is  almost  incredible 
bow  well  we  fared  as  to  eating.  .Meals  were, 
generally,  twelve  and  one-half  cents  each,  and 
horse  feed  in  proportion.  W’e  had  veni.son.  wild 
turkey,  and  ])r.iirie  chicken  in  abundance,  and 
the  sweeti'st  bacon,  made  from  the  masts  m  the 
woods.  I  logs  were  often  killed  without  having 
been  fetl  a  grain  of  corn.  Provision  for  sleeping 
was  the  worst.  'I'wo  ])ersons  in  one  bed.  three 
of  four  beds  in  one  room,  and  often  pallets  on 
the  lloor,  were  common. 

I  might  write  i)ages  in  regard  to  these  by¬ 
gone  days,  interesting  to  me  from  their  reminis¬ 
cences.  but  I  must  hasten  on  to  some  brief  ref- 
eience  to  my  legal  battles.  I  have  alwaxs  had 
the  good  fortune  to  secure  an  e.xtensive  practice, 
and  can  ne\er  forget  the  kindness,  friendship, 
and  support  of  the  people  of  Shelby  and  adjoin¬ 
ing  comities. 

My  first  murder  case  was  over  fiftv 
years  ago.  Robert  Sellers  killed  James  Rodman 
on  the  \  andalia  road,  about  five  miles  west  of 
Shelbx  ville.  It  is  said  the  grass  never  grew  on 
the  s])ot  where  the  body  was  found.  'I'liere  was 
no  eye  witness  to  the  killing,  yet  the  prosecution 
made  a  strong  case.  IL  1).  Laker,  of  S])ring- 
field,  assisted  me  in  defense.  He  was  killed  at 
Hall's  Llufi’  in  \'irginia  during  the  Civil  war. 


HIS  TORIC  SHE  TCH. 


Uakcr  was  a  most  elocjuciit  advocate.  'Die  jury 
tound  tile  defendant  ^nilty  of  murder,  jndije 
'I'reat  i)resided.  He  was  a  tender-liearted  man, 
and  a  fine  lawyer,  lie  wrote  a  brief  sentence  of 
condemnation,  and,  in  the  attemi)t  to  read  it, 
speech  ntterlv  failed  him  for  a  time,  and  his  eyes 
were  filled  with  tears.  The  motion  for  a  new- 
trial  havinj>-  been  overruled,  a  writ  of  error  was 
])rosecnted  to  the  lsn])reme,  court,  and  the  judg¬ 
ment  was  reversed  for  the  reason  that  one  of 
the  jurors  had  formed  and  expressed  an  opinion 
before  he  was  taken  on  the  venire,  that  the  de¬ 
fendant  was  guilty.  rather  anomalous  pro- 
ceediiii.^  in  criminal  juris])rudence  then  ensued. 
ISetween  the  time  of  the  killinj^  and  the  reversal, 
the  legislature  ])assed  a  law  punishing  the  crime 
of  manslaughter  by  imprisonment  in  the  peni¬ 
tentiary  for  a  term  not  exceeding  eight  years. 
A  new  indictment  was  found  after  the  reversal, 
a  “nolle"  entered  as  to  the  old  indictment:  Sel¬ 
lers  pleaded  guilty  to  the  new  indictment,  and 
was  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for  the  term 
of  seven  years.  There  was  no  saving  clause  in 
the  new  statute  as  to  offenses  previously  com¬ 
mitted.  This  occurred  in  1842.  In  1844  Josiah 
Sanhourne,  one  of  the  ablest  ])rosecutors  in 
criminal  t'ases  I  ever  knew  in  the  state,  and  Jus¬ 
tin  Ilutterfield,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Chicago, 
made  a  motion  for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  to 
bring  Sellers  before  the  Supreme  court.  The 
court  rendered  a  singular  opinion  to  the  effect 
th:.t  the  prisoner  was  in  the  penitentiary  by  a 
voluntary  contract  on  his  part,  and  he  was  re¬ 
manded  to  prison. 

1  had  another  interesting  criminal  case  in 
mv  earlv  ])ractice  which  arose  in  Shelbyville. 
Captain  Mathew  Duncan,  a  brother  of  Ciovernor 
Duncan,  killed  Thomas  Lew'is.  They  were  both 
residents  of  Shelbyville.  Duncan  was  a  mer¬ 
chant.  Lewis  often  became  intoxicated,  and. 
when  nnder  the  influence  of  liciuor,  was  one  of 


the  most  (juarrelsome  and  disagreeable  men  1 
ever  knew.  Dnncan  was  standing  on  his  counter 
ananging  some  goods  on  the  upper  shelves, 
when  Lewis  came  into  the  store,  and  commenced 
])ulling  at  the  feet  and  legs  of  Duncan.  A  yard 
stick  was  lying  on  the  counter,  and  Duncan 
seized  it  and  struck  Lewis  on  the  side  of  the 
head,  just  above  the  ear.  .\t  this  point  the  skull 
is  very  thin,  and  the  blow  fractured  it.  The 
broken  ])ieces  pressed  on  the  brain.  Lewis  in¬ 
stantly  fell :  was  soon  in  a  comatose  condition  ; 
lingered  for  forty-eight  hours,  and  then  died. 
.\othing  ])rior  to  the  death,  was  done  to  relieve 
the  pressure  upon  the  brain. 

Dnncan  was  indicted.  I  defended  him,  and 
he  was  accpiitted.  My  defense  was  maljiractice. 
.\  |)ost-mortem  examination  was  made,  and  it 
was  found  that  the  fractured  bone  and  the 
coagulated  bkaxl  nr  de  .so  great  a  ])res.sure  on  the 
lirain  as  to  cause  death.  The  concurrent  testi¬ 
mony  of  the  surgeems  was  that,  if  the  trephining 
piocess  had  been  resorted  to  at  any  time  within 
twenty-four  hours,  and  the  pressure  relieved,  the 
man  would  have  been  alive,  d'he  principle  in¬ 
sisted  upon  was  that  the  blow  was  not  necessarily 
fatal,  and  only  became  so  from  sheer  neglect. 

( )n  one  evening  I  came  home  from  the 
“circuit"  and  met  (General  Thornton,  who  was 
then  a  merchant  in  Shelbyville.  lie  said  to  me: 
“Your  absence  has  lost  you  a  case."  He  then 
informed  me  that  he  had  arrested  a  man  for  stetd- 
ing  some  beeswa.x  and  a  bridle,  and  he  was  now- 
in  jail.  The  criminal  sent  for  me  the  same  even¬ 
ing,  and  I  undertook  his  defense.  In  those  days 
beeswax  was  pretty  good  money.  There  was 
no  mark  on  the  beeswax,  and  every  merchant 
had  some  of  it.  There  was,  therefore,  no  identi¬ 
fication  of  the  beeswax  as  the  property  of  Oen. 
'Ihoniton,  but  the  ])roof  was  jrretty  strong  as  to 
his  ow  nership  of  the  bridle.  1,  however,  proved 
that  other  merchants  had  similar  bridles.  There 


130 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


was  no  proof  of  the  actual  taking,  yet  a  case  of 
strong  sus])icion  was  made  out  against  the  pris¬ 
oner.  I  had  selected  an  unusually  intelligent 
jury,  and  I  have  thought  I  had  an  inspiration  as 
to  the  character  of  the  defense.  General  Thorn¬ 
ton  was.  of  course,  a  witness,  and  as  such  he  was 
so  uncontrollable  that  he  prejudiced  the  jury 
against  him. 

I  conceded  in  the  argument  to  the  jury  that 
there  was  moral  or  probable  guilt,  but  insisted 
it  would  be  a  dangerous  precedent  to  convict.  I 
emphasized  the  old  maxim  of  the  law.  "It  is  bet¬ 
ter  that  ninety  and  nine  .guilty  persons  should 
esca])e.  than  that  one  innocent  man  sufifer."  'Pile 
jury  accpiitted  the  prisoner.  ('leneral  'Phornton 
remained  in  the  court  room,  and  I  saw  that  he 
was  excited,  and  was  talking  to  the  lawyers 
around  him  I  was  told  afterward  that  he  said 
he  would  give  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  priv- 
ile.ge  of  thirty  minutes  in  which  to  rei)ly  to  me. 
'Phe  re])ly  would  have  been  a  severe  one.  lie 
para])hrased  the  maxim  to  which  1  referred,  and 
said  it  ou.ghl  to  be:  "It  is  better  that  ninety-nine 
innocent  men  hang,  than  one  rascal  escape."  1 
.got  a  beautiful  bay  mare  for  my  fee. 

.\  mail  killed  aiiotber  in  Moultrie  county, 
lie  was  arrested  and  jilaced  in  jail.  1  took  him 
before  judge  Emer.sou  by  writ  of  habeas  corpus, 
lie  heard  the  evidence,  and  remanded  him  to 
jail.  'Phe  killing  was  by  shooting  with  a  ride. 
(  hily  one  witness  saw  the  shootin.g.  She  testi¬ 
fied  the  prisoner  was  twenty-five  feet  distant 
from  the  man  shot ;  that  he  deliberately  took  aim 
and  fired,  and  that  there  was  a  blaze  on  the 
woolen  coat  as  the  .gun  fired.  'Phere  was  also 
jiroof  that  the  ball  struck  the  man  in  the  breast 
and  tended  u])wards,  and  that  the  ])risoner  had 
several  severe  cuts  on  his  back,  done  with  some 
sharp  instrument.  After  the  indictment  1  took 
a  change  of  venue  to  Coles  county,  and  Pksher  F. 
Finder  aided  me  in  the  defense.  My  exper¬ 


ience  with  the  ride  assisted  me  very  muchni  pre- 
])aring  for  the  trial.  From  the  small  (piantity  of 
powder  used  iu  a  ride.  I  concluded  the  woman's 
story  as  to  the  distance  between  the  men  at  the 
time  of  the  killing  was  untrue ;  and  from  the 
cuts  on  the  back  and  the  tendency  of  the  ball, 
that  the  men  were  in  close  contact,  and  enga.ged 
in  a  fi.ght  at  the  time  of  shooting.  To  verify  my 
♦theory.  1  engaged  three  men.  ex])ert  with  the 
ride,  and  obtained  a  rifle,  of  the  same  calibre  as 
the  one  used  by  the  prisoner;  used  the  same 
(piantity  of  jiowder.  and  the  same  patching,  a 
])iece  of  oiled  buckskin  ;  hung  u])  a  woolen  coat 
on  a  tree,  and  exjterimented  freipiently  in  shoot¬ 
ing  at  it.  'Phe  coat  was  never  burned  exce])t 
when  we  dred  within  about  a  foot  of  it. 

'Phis  proof  was  submitted  to  the  jurv.  and 
my  man  was  accpiitted.  lie  only  a.greed  to  pav 
me  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  but  he  was  so 
pleased  with  the  result  he  gave  me  a  ba.g  con¬ 
taining  three  hundred  dollars  in  gold  and  silver. 

.\  case  of  the  greatest  notoriety,  and  one 
which  created  more  excitment  throughout  the 
country,  than  any  other  I  was  ever  engaged  in. 
was  the  Fmma  I  fond  rajie  case.  Three  men  were 
arrested  for  an  alleged  rape  of  her  in  the  loft  of 
the  school  house  in  Christian  county,  in  which 
she  was  enprloyed  in  teaching  school.  Her  story 
was  that.  u])on  the  dismissal  of  the  school,  she 
remained  to  sweep  out.  and.  as  she  had  the  dust 
near  the  door,  one  man  threw  a  shawl  over  her 
head.  and.  with  the  assistance  of  a  man  above, 
she  was  hoisted  into  the  loft,  and  there  the  rajre 
was  committed,  and  she  was  left  unconscious 
until  late  in  the  night,  when  she  went  to  the 
house  of  .Mrs.  Pettis.  She  was  taken  to  her 
father’s  the  .same  night  by  young  Pettis,  who. 
with  John  .Montgomery  and  an  Italian,  were  ar¬ 
rested  fcrr  the  crime. 

1  attended  the  ])reliminary  examination  in 
'Pavlorville  which  continued  for  several  davs.  (^n 


FV 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


the  last  (lav  there  was  an  ininiense  crowd  of 
rouj^li,  aiii’rv  and  scowlinj>;  men  in  the  court 
room.  'Pile  iiressure  was  so  5.>Teat  that  a  substan¬ 
tial  railins^  between  the  bar  for  the  court  and 
lawyers,  and  the  audience  room,  was  broken 
down.  1  was  satisfied  that  a  mob  was  contem¬ 
plated,  and  I  took  the  first  train  for  a  more  (|uiet 
ref^ion.  'Phon”h  h'mma  llond  did  not  aiipear, 
and  without  her  testimony  the  ])roof  was  sli5.jht, 
\  et  the  three  men  were  bound  over  to  court. 
'Phe  e.xcitement  was  so  intense  that  the  justice 
would  have  been  mobbed,  had  he  released  them. 

Sure  eiioiyt^h,  accordinj>'  to  my  fears,  a  laiytt'e 
and  furious  mob  gathered  in  'I'aylorville  on  the 
ni^ht  followins^  the  close  of  the  ])rehminary  ex¬ 
amination,  and  broke  into  the  jail.  Havin'.^  tied 
a  rope  around  the  neck  of  each  ])risoner,  after 
numerous  threats  and  much  violence,  Mont- 
“'omery  protested  vij^(jrously  his  innocence,  was 
suspended  in  mid-air  by  use  of  a  limb  of  one 
of  the  trees,  until  he  w'as  entirely  nnconsicious, 
and  it  was  .some  time  before  he  could  he  re¬ 
stored.  This  caused  a  reaction  in  the  mob,  and 
the  accused  were  returned  to  jail. 

An  indictment  was  jireferred,  and  the  de¬ 
fendants  took  a  chan!.^e  of  venue  to  Montgomery 
county. 

All  ])ersons  assembled  in  flillsboro  ready 
for  the  battle.  |udj>e  I’hillips  presided,  llesides 
the  able  State’s  .\ttorney  John  (i.  Drennan,  the 
lawyers  in  the  prosecution  were  Judi^^e  Edwards 
of  vSiirinj^'field,  jndj^e  \  andeveer  and  James  15. 
Rocks  of  'I'aylorville,  and  several  others.  The 
lawyers  for  the  defense  were  Mcllride  and  Mc- 
('laskill  of  'Paylorville,  and  myself.  We  were  for¬ 
tunate  in  the  selection  of  a  most  excellent  jury. 
(  )n  the  openiiifi'  of  the  court  on  the  first  day  the 
court  ro(mi  was  a  jam,  and  the  crowd  continued 
every  day  during  the  whole  trial  which  lasted 
for  over  five  weeks. 

'Phere  were  several  hundred  witnesses,  and 


])erson.s  attended  the  trial  from  all  the  adjoining 
counties  and  from  other  states.  Nearly  every 
jjaper  in  St.  Louis  and  Chicago  had  reporters 
who  sent  daily  full  reports  of  the  progress  of  the 
trial.  In  the  inception  of  the  trial,  and  for  sev¬ 
eral  weeks,  we  had  to  battle  against  a  bitter  sen¬ 
timent.  'Phis  was  manifest  from  the  o])en  aj)- 
plause  whenever  the  judge  ruled  against  the  de¬ 
fendants.  It  was  manifest  from  the  scowling 
looks  whenever  the  attorneys  for  the  de¬ 
fendants  gained  a  point.  It  was  manifest  from 
the  constant  rumors  of  mob  violence  every  night. 
It  was  manifest  from  the  daily  anon  vinous  letters 
to  John  Montgomery  and  myself,  containing 
threats  of  every  character.  Judge  IMiilli])s  heard 
of  the  letters  to  me.  and,  thinking  that  so  many 
letters  might  affect  me,  directed  the  postmaster 
to  ])Ut  my  letters  in  his  box,  and  he  handed  me 
a  number  of  threatening  letters  after  the  trial 
ended.  In  the  beginning  the  judge  was  strongly 
against  the  defendants,  hut  he  changed  as  the 
trial  progressed. 

W  e  began  the  trial  in  November,  and  held 
court  every  day,  and  frecjiiently  at  night,  until 
after  Christmas,  except  Sundays  and  on  Christ- 
was  day. 

During  this  exciting  and  protracted  trial,  1 
examined  and  cross-examined  every  witness, 
made  all  the  legal  arguments  to  the  jury,  and 
ended  my  labors  in  a  speech  (jf  four  hours  to  the 
jury.  On  the  next  day  after  the  trial  1  was  in 
Springfield,  and  delivered  a  memorial  address 
before  the  State  liar-association  upon  the  death 
or  the  lamented  Chief  Justice  Lawrence. 

I’ut  I  must  hasten  with  my  sketch,  and  give 
a  brief  resume  of  my  career  in  other  resjiects. 

I  was  first  married  to  Alildred  Thornton, 
a  daughter  of  ('jeneral  Thornton,  in  the  year 
1852.  She  died  on  the  24th  day  of  Sei)tember, 
1856.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  was  tw'O  child- 


y 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


rcn.  W  illiam  Towles,  who  is  still  living,  and 
Anthony,  who  died  on  the  13th  of  July.  1873. 

I  was  married  to  my  present  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Kate  H.  Smith,  on  the  30th 
day  of  August.  1866.  at  Mrs.  Reed’s,  near 
Springfield.  ( )hio.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Addison  Smith,  an  excellent  and  well-remem¬ 
bered  teacher  in  pioneer  days.  W’e  have  two 
children.  Katharine  I’resley,  now  married  to 
llarry  C.  Frankenfield  of  the  U.  S.  Weather 
linrean.  now  stationed  in  St.  Louis,  a  lovely  and 
intelligent  woman,  the  pride  of  her  i)arents ;  and 
a  son.  Lewis  W  alker,  who  left  New  York  on 
June  3rd.  i8(j6.  on  the  ship.  St.  Louis,  for 
Southampton,  and  thence  tc)  Cajie  Town.  .South 
Africa. 

My  wife  has  ever  been  to  me  a  loving  and 
dutiful  wife,  in  sickness  and  sorrow,  as  well  as 
in  ])ros])erity.  I  owe  to  her  a  happy  home. 

I  have  not  only  succeeded  in  my  jirofession  ; 
have  been  fortunate  in  making  friends  ;  and  in 
my  domestic  relations ;  but  have  been  e<iually 
fortunate  in  all  attengits  to  obtain  official  |)osi- 
tion. 

I  was.  more  than  half  a  century  ago.  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  village  of  Shelbyville.  served 
for  several  terms.  In  the  beginning  of  the  Mex¬ 
ican  war  I  was  a  major  in  the  militia  of  Shelby 
and  several  adjoining  counties,  and  I  made  a 
number  of  siteeches  urging  enlistments.  Such 
was  the  furor  in  Shelby  in  favor  of  the  war.  that 
one  company  was  formed  and  accepted,  and  we 
rapidly  made  up  another  com])osed  of  one  hun¬ 
dred  men.  all  si.x  feet  in  height  or  over,  and  I 
was  chosen  captain.  W’e  drilled  daily  for  several 
weeks,  and  were  under  ])retty  good  disci])line. 
when  we  received  word  from  the  governor  that 
the  cjuota  was  filled,  and  our  com|)any  would  not 
be  acce])teil.  So  ended  my  military  career. 

My  first  attempt  for  any  office  was  as  a 
candidate  for  membership  in  the  convention  to 


revise  the  constitution  of  1818.  The  election  oc¬ 
curred  in  the  spring  of  1847.  The  district  was 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Shelby  and  Moul¬ 
trie.  i\Iy  opponent  was  General  Peter  W  arren 
of  Shelby.  He  had  been  in  the  state  senate  for 
twelve  years,  and  had  never  been  defeated  for 
any  office.  I  traveled  on  horseback  to  nearly, 
every  house  in  the  two  counties.  Then  the  vot¬ 
ers  re(]uired  that  the  candidate  should  visit  them. 
W'e  also  had  frequent  public  gatherings  at  which 
we  addressed  the  peo])le.  I  totik  with  me  in  my 
saddle  bags  the  journal  of  the  senate,  and  for  the 
first  time  exposed  Warren's  votes.  He  became 
so  sore  about  these  votes  that,  in  Moultrie,  near 
the  close  of  the  campaign,  he  ^iroposed  to  go 
home  if  1  would  cease  to  use  the  journals.  I 
told  him  I  could  not  throw  away  my  entire  capi¬ 
tal.  So  I  continued  the  fight,  and  the  result  was. 

I  was  elected  by  over  eight  hundred  majority. 

The  convention  met  in  Springfield  on  the 
7th  day  of  June.  1847.  and  adjourned  on  the 
31st  day  of  .\ugust.  1847.  The  constitution  we 
formed  was  ado|)ted  by  the  ])eo])le  at  an  election 
on  the  first  .Monday  of  .March.  1848.  It  was  an 
admirable  instrument,  and  well  adapted  to  the 
condition  of  Illinois  at  that  time.  Her  treasurv 
was  banknqit :  her  credit  gone;  her  bonds  were 
unsalable:  her  banks  were  insolvent,  and  gen¬ 
eral  financial  distress  hovered  over  us.  'I'he  new 
constitution  lessened  greatly  the  expenses  of 
the  state  government;  reduced  salaries:  and  or¬ 
dered  that  a  tax  of  two  mills  upon  each  dollar’s 
worth  of  taxable  i)ro])erty  should  be  annuallv 
assessed  and  collected,  to  be  a])])lied  uiion  the 
state  indebtedness.  Thus  a  depressed  people 
w  ere  imbued  with  new  hope  :  the  credit  of  the 
state  was  restored,  and  our  grand  state  began 
her  marvelous  growth  in  wealth.  ])0])nlation.  and 
pros|)crity. 

.My  next  venture  in  political  life  was  as  a 
candidate  for  the  legislature  in  1850.  The  dis- 


I 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


trict  consisted  of  Slicll)y  and  Christian  counties, 
rile  ref.;idar  democratic  nominee  was  the  Rev. 
Ilnshrod  .M .  I  lenry  of  Shelby  vide,  a  noted  minis¬ 
ter  of  tile  Christian  church.  R.efore  the  election 
Judij^e  .  \  andeveer  hecame  a  candidate.  1  was 
elected,  in  a  stroiij^'  democratic  district,  hy  about 
one  hundred  majority.  W'e  ‘had  two  sessions 
durintj-  the  term.  .\t  the  first  session  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  com|)any  was  chartered,  and 
we  ])revented  a  charter  for  a  railroad  by  \'an- 
dalia.  This  assured  the  comiiletion  of  the  .Alton 
and  'I'erre  1  lante  Route  Railroad,  now  a  ])art  of 
the  "Ilijj'  Four." 

1  he  sessions  were  very  pleasant :  the  cajiital 
was  it'ay.  and  1  had  my  share  of  enjoyment  al- 
thouiLth  our  comiieusalion  was  only  two  dollars 
])er  day.  Iudf>e  Rreese  was  sjieaker,  and  he 
made  a  maj^niticent  one. 

In  the  charter  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail¬ 
road  company,  it  is  ])rovided  that,  in  considera¬ 
tion  of  the  splendid  body  of  land  granted  to  the 
corporation,  it  should  ])ay  to  the  state  seven  per 
cent  of  its  gross  earnings.  In  view  of  the  enor¬ 
mous  gift  which  the  com])any  received,  the 
state  should  have  had,  forever,  ten  per  cent,  in¬ 
stead  of  seven  jier  cent,  of  the  gross  earnings. 

I  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  internal 
improvements,  and  when  Mr.  Rantoul,  the  agent 
of  the  eastern  caiiitalists,  a])])eared  before  the 
committee,  he  said  the  men  who  projtosed  to 
take  the  lands  and  construct  the  road,  had 
talked  of  giving  to  the  state  ten  per  cent  of  the 
gross  earnings.  The  committee  so  rejiorted. 
l>ut  an  influential  lobby  \\'as  created  which  in¬ 
fluenced  the  matter,  and  seven  per  cent  was 
fixed  in  the  charter.  Lincoln,  AIcClernand 
Pogue  of  the  (lalena  district,  and  divers  others, 
formed  this  loobv. 

I  was  assiduously  engaged  in  my  profession 
until  in  1862,  when  I  was  elected  a  member  of  a 
convention  called  to  revise  the  constitution. 


Shelby  ami  Cumberland  counties  composed  the 
district.  W  e  made  a  very  good  constitution,  but, 
as  the  convention  foolishly  and  impro])erlv  an¬ 
tagonized  Covernor  \'ates,  who  was  deservedlv 
very  po])ular,  the  constitution  was  not  accepted 
by  the  people. 

As  I  have  arrived  at  that  jicriod  of  my  life 
when  the  fetirful  Civil  war  between  the  north  and 
south  was  in  progress,  it  may  be  jiroper  that  I 
briellx'  tdlude  to  it.  I  had  voted  for  Ifotiglas, 
and  was,  of  cotirse,  ojiposed  to  the  election  of 
Lincoln.  1  knew  him  very  well.  \  jiiirer  and 
more  honest  man.  and  one  more  devoted  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  country, '  never  lived.  Rut 
my  birthplace  was  in  the  south.  I  lived  there 
until  1  had  attained  to  manhood.  'I'he  same 
blood  which  coursed  through  mv  veins,  flowed 
in  the  veins  of  hundreds,  even  thousands,  of  rela¬ 
tives,  scattered  through  Kentucky,  \  irginia, 
Alabama,  .Missouri,  and  other  southern  states. 
.My  sympathies  were,  therefore,  with  the  South¬ 
ern  peojile.  1  never  had  a  wish  for  their  success 
in  the  mad  attemjit  to  disru])t  the  Cnion,  and 
put  out  the  light  of  liberty  forever.  Rut  I  could 
not  engage  in  the  deadly  strife  with  brothers 
and  near  relatives.  Still,  at  no  time  during  the 
terrible  struggle,  did  I  falter  in  my  devotion  to 
the  union  of  the  states,  as  essential  to  our  pros¬ 
perity  as  a  nation,  and  even  to  the  existence  of 
liberty  itself. 

( )n  several  occasions  during  the  war  I  en¬ 
dangered  my  own  life  in  addressing  infuriated 
crowds,  and  urging  peace  at  home,  and  the 
preservation  of  the  Union  at  all  hazards. 

In  1864.  without  having  been  a  candidate 
for  nomination,  and  wdthout  expectation  or  solic¬ 
itation,  on  nt}'  jtart,  I  was  nominated  by  the 
democratic  convention  for  congress  in  the  dis¬ 
trict  cpmjtosed  of  Shelby.  Alontgomerv.  Macoii- 
])in,  Jersey,  Green.  Calhoun.  Alorgan  and  Scott 
counties.  I  visited  each  of  the  counties  e.xcejtt 


134 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Calhoun,  and  made  s])eeches  at  each  county 
seat.  I  was.  of  course,  elected,  as  the  district 
was  largely  democratic. 

1  took  my  seat  in  December,  1865.  and  we 
had  a  continuous  session  until  August  follow¬ 
ing.  1  was  renominated  before  my  return  home, 
but  declined.  I  rather  enjoyed  the  session,  but 
during  the  latter  ])art  of  it  the  heat  was  intense 
and  a  good  deal  of  sickness  prevailed. 

Just  after  the  war  the  city  was  filthy,  and 
had  a  des])oiled  appearance,  and  1  had  no  desire 
to  return.  The  democrats  were  few.  and  some¬ 
times  we  could  not  muster  votes  enough  to  force 
a  record  of  the  ayes  and  noes.  Men  who  have 
since  become  distinguished  were  members. 
There  were  Thaddeus  Stevens.  R.  11.  Hayes, 
lames  A.  Garfield.  James  G.  lilaine.  Roscoe 
Conkling,  and  others  of  great  ability. 

The  duties  of  a  member  of  congress,  if 
faithfully  performed,  are  constant  and  arduous. 
1  served  on  the  Committee  on  Claims  and  liank- 
ru])tcy.  The  attendance  upon  the  house,  com¬ 
mittee  work,  and  attention  to  the  incessant  re- 
(juests  of  constituents,  occupied  all  one's  time. 
1  tried  to  discharge  the  duties  conscientiously  : 
served  during  the  short  session,  and  returned 
home  to  my  favored  profession. 

lint  it  seems  1  was  to  have  new  honors 
thrust  upon  me.  In  1870  a  new  constitution  was 
ado])ted,  and  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court 
were  increased  in  number,  from  three  to  seven. 
Seven  districts  were  created,  and  one  judge  was 
to  be  elected  in  each  district.  As  the  three  old 
judges  held  over,  four  additional  judges  were 
elected  in  July.  1870.  1  was  a  resident  of  the 

2nd  district.  com])osed  of  nineteen  counties.  In 
])olitics  it  was  democratic.  Numerous  friends 
recpiested  me  to  be  a  candidate,  and  1  consented. 
Democrats  from  the  southern  ])art  of  the  dis¬ 
trict  insisted  that  the  candidate  should  be  select¬ 
ed  by  a  party  convention.  To  this  I  demurred. 


and  replied  that  a  candidate  for  judge  should  be 
under  no  obligations  to  any  ])arty.  and  should 
not  be  chosen  by  a  partisan  convention.  Indeed. 
I  have  always  thought  a  judge  should  be  re¬ 
moved.  as  far  as  i)ossible.  from  all  political  bias 
or  inriuence.  For  this  reason  in  the  convention 
of  1847  I  voted  against  the  election  of  judges 
by  the  peojde. 

1  was  nominated  at  a  convention  of  eitizens, 
without  regard  to  ])arty.  and  Judge  .Karon  Shaw 
was  nominate<l  at  a  democratic  convention.  1 
was  elected  hy  over  eight  thousand  majoritv. 

1  took  my  seat  on  the  sui)reme  bench  at 
(  )ttawa  in  September.  1870.  and  served  for  three 
\  ears.  '1  he  cases  before  the  court  were  double 
what  they  are  now.  Hence  the  judges  were  oc- 
cui)ied  during  their  entire  time.  W'e  had  no 
time  for  play  or  recreation.  I  was  never  behind 
with  my  work,  and  never  missed  a  session  of  the 
court  during  the  three  years  of  my  service.  1 
never  met  the  judges  in  conference  for  reading 
our  opinions  that  1  did  not  have  ])repared  a  w  rit¬ 
ten  opinion  in  every  case  assigned  to  me.  (  )ur 
practice  was  to  read  the  abstracts  and  briefs, 
confer  about  the  facts  and  law  of  the  case,  and 
then  make  a  minute  of  our  conclusions.  .Ml  the 
judges  were  retpured  to  be  ])resent  at  these  con¬ 
ferences.  W  hen  the  o]nnions  were  written,  thev 
were  read  in  the  ])resence  of  all  the  judges,  and 
either  approved  or  condemned.  Though  some 
of  the  judges  were  re(|uired  to  revise,  and  some¬ 
times  to  re-write,  their  opinions.  I  cannot  recall 
a  single  instance  where  1  had  to  review  any  of 
my  o])inions. 

My  resignation  as  judge  has  been  thought 
to  have  been  a  strange  whim.  This  was  not 
made  because  of  any  dislike  of  the  i)osition.  In¬ 
deed.  I  had  a  decided  fondness  for  it.  Mv 
brother  judges  were  genial  and  ])leasant  gentle¬ 
men.  and  well  trained  lawyers.  Mv  association 
with  them,  as  well  as  with  the  members  of  the 


HIS  TORIC  SKETCH. 


l)ar,  was  always  afjrccabkv  I  wrote  inv  o])inions 
with  j^reat  facility,  and  could  have  no  cause  of 
complaint.  Hut  the  confinement  to  me  was  verv 
unpleasant  and  irksome  in  view  of  the  out-door 
life  I  had  always  followed.  I  besides,  mv  wife 
was  then  in  ])oor  health,  and  1  felt  that  more  of 
my  time  and  attention  were  due  to  my  family. 

In  December.  1X73.  1  met  with  some  other 
lawyers  in  .Sprin, infield,  and  we  formed  the  State 
Har  association,  of  which  1  was  the  first  presi¬ 
dent,  and  was  re-elected  twice  afterwards.  'Phis 
is  a  ”food  association  and  should  be  attended  and 
cherished  more  by  the  members  of  the  i)rofes- 
sion. 

In  .\ut>ust.  1895.  (iovernor  Altf^eld,  without 
my  knowledge,  nominated  me.  with  two  other 
gentlemen,  to  the  senate  as  a  Hoard  of  .\rbitra- 
tion  under  a  law  of  the  last  legislature.  .\t  a 
meeting  of  the  board  1  was  chosen  chairman. 

.\t  nearly  eighty-seven  years  of  age  1  am 
still  in  the  active  practice  of  my  profession  ;  en- 
jt)y  fairly  good  health  ;  have  a  hap])y  and  (juiet 
home,  and  have  no  fears  of  the  future.  1  cannot 
say  that  my  life  has  been 

galling  load 

Akmg  a  rough,  a  weary  road," 

for  1  hav'e  had  my  full  share  of  honor  and  hap- 
])iness  and  enjoyment. 

I  have  always  tried  to  have  an  uncorru|)ted 
conscience  ;  to  be  honest  in  thought  and  action  ; 
to  be  faithful  to  duty  and  to  myself,  and  to  so 
act  as  to  have  a  proper  respect  for  mvself. 

"J  cannot  tell  what  you  and  other  men  think 
of  this  life ; 

Hut  for  my  single  self,  J  had  as  lief  not  be, 

As  live  to  be  in  awe  of  such  a  thing  as  mv¬ 
self." 

With  a  trustful  reliance  upon  the  goodness 


and  mercy  of  the  Almighty  h'ather,  who  has  be¬ 
stowed  my  pathway  with  blessings,  1  hope  to  live 
my  allotted  time  in  peace  and  (juietness. 


Helow,  we  give  a  biographical  write-ui)  of  the 
writer  of  this  chapter,  furnished  us  bv  lion. 
W  alter  C.  1  leaden. 

iio.x.  (',h:()R(;i-:  d.  cii.\i'h:K. 

Xo  list  of  the  iirominent  men  of  Shelbv 
County  would  be  complete  without  the  name  of 
this  gentleman. 

His  life  and  character  are  such  as  to  entitle 
him  to  |)rominent  place  and  mention  in  these 
permanent  and  enduring  records. 

-Mr.  Chafee  was  born  July  2nd,  1839.  in 
Rutland  county,  X’ermont.  'Phis  same  countv 
was  the  birthplace  of  Stephen  .\.  Douglas  and 
Hrigham  Young. 

Plis  father  died  when  he  was  three  months 
old,  and  the  old  New  England  home  was  broken 
up,  and  the  mother,  with  her  baby,  moved  to 
Michigan.  She  was  (piite  poor,  and,  at  the 
earliest  i)ossible  age,  the  boy  was  compelled  to 
assist  in  supporting  the  family.  This  he  bravely 
did  when  a  mere  child,  accepting  any  odd  jobs 
he  could  find,  and  ])art  of  the  time  working  on  a 
farm  at  twenty-five  cents  a  day. 

•At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  lost  his  right  arm 
in  a  threshing  machine. 

The  writer  of  this  article  distinctly  remem¬ 
bers  a  conversation  he  once  heard  between  Mr. 
Chafee  and  a  battle-scarred  veteran  of  our  Civil 
war.  It  was  long  subsequent  to  the  close  of  the 
Rebellion  and  after  Mr.  Chafee  had  resided  in 
Shelbyvilie  for  years.  On  being  introduced  to 
Mr.  Chafee  the  old  soldier  looked  at  his  armless 
sleeve  fitr  a  moment  and  then  incpiired,  “Mr. 
Chafee,  in  what  battle  did  you  lose  your  arm?" 


'06 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


"Sir."  replied  Cliafee.  fastening-  his  dark  piereing 
eves  ujH)n  his  questioner.  "I  am  ashamed  to  con¬ 
fess  thal  I  lost  that  arm  in  a  threshing  machine. 
It  is  the  one  deep  regret  of  my  life  that  I  did  not 
l(jse  my  arm  as  you  received  the  bullets  in  your 
body,  namely,  in  the  service  and  defense  of  my 
country  and  her  flag.” 

This  accident  changed  the  whole  course  of 
the  hoy’s  life.  He  soon  realized  that  he  must 
fight  the  battles  of  life  with  brain  instead  of  mus¬ 
cle.  So  he  turned  his  attention  from  manual 
labor  to  other  kinds  of  work.  He  traveled  about 
the  country  as  a  peddler  through  the  summer 
season  and  taught  school  during  the  winter  until 
l)v  pinching  economy  he  had  laid  away  a  few 
dollars.  He  then  entere*d  the  law  oftice  of  Sea¬ 
man  &  Root  at  .\nn  .Arbor,  and  studied  for  a 
short  time. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  law  depart¬ 
ment  of  the  great  .\nn  .\rhor  University.  Chafee 
was  one  of  the  first  hoys  to  take  up  the  study 
of  the  law  in  that  institution.  Here,  he  found  a 
friend  in  the  great  law  writer  and  professor.  Hon. 
d'homas  M.  Cooley.  This  friendship  remained 
unbroken  until  the  death  of  the  latter  a  few  years 
ago. 

Graduating  from  the  law  school  in  March. 
1861.  he  wandered  forth  to  seek  a  loeation.  and 
to  learn  what  life  had  in  store  for  him.  \\  hat 
influence  caused  him  to  st(t])  in  Shelhyville.  he. 
today,  says  he  does  not  know.  He  was  friend¬ 
less.  penniless  and  alone  in  the  great  world.  His 
only  possessions  were  a  clean  heart,  a  clear  head, 
one  arm.  and  just  about  clothes  enough  on  his 
hack  "to  wad  a  gun."  It  is  sufticient  for  the 
l)urposes  of  this  article  to  state,  that  he  dropped 
into  Shelhyville  early  one  spring  morning  in 
1861  ;  and  here,  after  nearly  forty  years  of  active, 
useful,  honorable  life,  he  remains,  enjoving  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  the  thousands  of  iteople 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


While  he  has  ])assed  the  si.xtieth  mile-stone 
on  life's  journey,  and  his  hair  has  been  slightly 
frosted  by  the  toueh  of  time’s  finger,  he  enjoys 
the  prospect  of  many  more  years  of  active  busi¬ 
ness  life. 

.\  few  old  settlers  remember  yonng  Chafee’s 
])ersonal  ajtitearance  when  he  first  came  to  Shel¬ 
hyville.  and  from  their  descriptions,  no  one 
would  recognize  the  present  jtortly  Mr.  Chafee 
as  the  same  man.  When  he  first  came  to  Shel¬ 
hyville,  now  seems  a  long  time  ago;  "the  shot 
that  was  heard  around  the  world.”  had  just  been 
fired  at  Sunq)ter ;  Chafee  was  young,  awkward, 
over  si.x  feet  tall,  and  some  say.  so  slender  that 
it  was  neces.sary  for  him  to  i)ut  on  an  overcoat 
before  he  could  cast  a  shadow.  He  was  an  aboli¬ 
tionist.  an  ardent  union  re])uhlican.  and  an  out- 
s|)oken  advocate  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
Union  of  the  States  and  the  suitpression  of  the 
rebellion.  .\t  that  time  the  overwhelming  sen¬ 
timent  of  the  County  was  the  other  wav.  .Ml 
of  the  powerful  local  influence  were  against  the 
young  man.  'I’he  spirit  of  war  was  burning  in 
every  breast,  oung  Chafee  was  subjected  to 
all  manner  of  ridicule,  abuse  and  opposition  on 
account  of  his  political  view.  His  life  was  even 
threatened,  on  several  occasions.  'I'here  were 
hut  few  men  in  the  county  then  know  as 
"Union"  men  :  hut  they  were  all  lion-hearted  and 
were  brave  unto  death  ;  and  young  Chafee  soon 
took  position  in  their  front  ranks.  ( )n  this  ac¬ 
count.  for  a  long  time,  his  struggle  for  a  liveli¬ 
hood  was  doubly  difificult.  During  the  earlv  part 
of  the  Civil  war  legal  business  was  almost  sus- 
])ended.  and  Mr.  Chafee  eked  out  a  meagre  ex¬ 
istence  by  keeping  hooks  for  some  of  the  mer¬ 
chants.  accc])ting  agencies  for  several  insurance 
conqjanies,  and  occasionally  trying  a  ease  be¬ 
fore  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  took  his  meals 
at  a  hotel  kept  by  Cyrus  Hall,  afterwards  coktnel 
of  the  14th  regiment.  Illinois  Infantry.  i)aying 


0/ 


HlS'rORIC  SKETCH. 


two  dollars  ])cr  week  for  his  hoard,  and  had  his 
office  in  the  second  story  of  a  hnildiii”'  then 
standinij  on  the  j^round  now  occupied  hv  the 
hirst  Xational  ijank'  hnildinf^,  slee])inf4'  in  his 
office  on  a  lonnj^e  that  cost  about  two  dollars 
and  a  half. 

rile  I'nited  Stales  j^overnnient  shortly 
found  need  of  such  a  man.  and  he  was  employed 
to  assist  it!  enrolling  the  County  for  a  draft  that 
was  ordered.  'I'his  work  did  not  haye  a  tendency 
to  add  to  his  popularity. 

lie  was  one  of  the  first  persons  to  eng'ajje 
in  the  business  of  obtainiti^  iiensions  for  woitnd- 
ed  soldiers,  and  widows,  and  bounties  that  the 
iLtovernmeiit  soon  commenced  to  jiay  for  volun¬ 
teers.  .\lso.  he  held  the  office  of  Cnited  States 
Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue  for  Shelby  Coun¬ 
ty.  and  later,  for  his  conj^ressional  district. 

.\s  before  stated.  Mr.  Chafee  came  to  Shel- 
byville  in  the  sprinj^  of  iS6i.  On  the  day  of  his 
arrival  court  was  in  session  in  the  old  court 
house,  then  standing-  in  the  middle  of  the  public 
s(|uare.  He  strolled  into  the  court  room:  Judge 
lymerson  was  on  the  bench  ;  a  great  crowd  was 
Itresent.  as.  in  those  days,  people  attended  court 
in  great  throngs,  whether  directly  interested  or 
not.  in  pending  litigation  ;  a  man  was  being  tried 
on  a  charge  of  jiassing  counterfeit  five  dollar 
coins. 

Hon.  Samuel  W  .  Moulton,  one  of  the  ablest 
and  best  lawyers  m  the  state,  was  defending  the 
fellow,  and.  as  Chafee  entered  the  room,  was 
cross-examining  the  chief  witness  for  the  prose¬ 
cution.  It  seems  that  this  witness  had  testified 
very  fully  and  had  ])ositively  identified  a  ]tarticu- 
lar  coin  as  the  counterfeit.  During  the  examina¬ 
tion,  Judge  Moulton,  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  be 
observed  by  the  wdtness.  (piietly  drew'  from  his 
])ocket  five  or  six  genuine  coins  of  the  .same  de¬ 
nomination,  dropjted  the  alleged  counterfeit 
among  them,  and  (piickly  held  them  all  out  to 


the  witness  and  asked  him  to  ])oint  out  the  coun¬ 
terfeit.  'I'he  witness,  .so  taken  by  surprise,  was 
completely  broken  down,  left  the  witness  stand 
a  discredited  man.  and  Judge  Moulton's  client 
was  ac(|uitted.  'Phis  incident  o])ened  the  way 
for  an  accpiaintance  between  Moulton  and 
t  hafee  whieh  soon  ripened  into  friendship. 
Judge  .Moidton  recognizing  young  Chafee's  abil¬ 
ity.  gave  him  employment  in  his  office. 

In  1863  the  law  firm  of  .Moulton  A’  C'hafee 
Wc'is  organized  and  the  two  men  continued  <'is 
l)aitners  until  Jannary  1.  iX(>7.  'I'he  old  firm 
of  .Moulton  iX  Chafee  was  famous  in  its  day  and 
continued  for  a  longer  ])eriod  than  any  partner¬ 
ship  that  has  ever  existed  in  the  conntv . 

It  is  worthy  of  mention,  that  shortly  after 
this  law  firm  was  formed  a  brick  business  house 
was  erected  on  the  corner  of  .Main  and  Morgan 
streets  in  Shelby ville.  that  .Moulton  X-  C'hafee  at 
once  rented  a  suite  of  rooms  in  the  new'  building 
and  that  .Mr.  Chafee  still  occu])ies  these  same 
rooms,  remaining  in  the  same  office  for  nearb 
forty  years. 

Mr.  Chafee  has,  through  all  the  years,  re¬ 
mained  a  faithful,  earnest  republican  of  the  stal¬ 
wart  type,  holding  high  rank  in  the  councils  of 
his  party.  While  not  politically  ambitious,  his 
part}-  has  repeatedly  called  him  to  responsible 
and  honorable  ])laces.  He  has  been  its  choice 
and  nominee  for  both  member  of  congre.ss,  and 
judge  of  the  Circuit  court. 

In  1876  he  was  one  (jf  the  ])resulential  elec¬ 
tors  from  Illinois.  1  his  was  the  election  ending 
in  the  thrilling  contest  between  Hayes  and  Til- 
den  for  the  ])residency,  and  which  was  finally 
settled  by  the  Electoral  Commission.  On  ac¬ 
count  of  certain  facts  in  his  possession.  .Mr. 
Chafee  was  summoned  to  Washington  as  a  wit¬ 
ness  before  the  Congressional  House  C'ommittee 
presided  over  by  Proctor  Knott.  Here,  he  be¬ 
came  acquainted  with  David  Dudley  Field,  who 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


was  ]\Ir.  Tildcu’s  lawyer  in  tlie  famous  contest; 
besides  many  other  men  of  national  fame.  At 
this  time,  he  was  admitted  to  ])ractice  before 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Cnited  States. 

In  1880  he  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legis¬ 
lature  from  the  Senatorial  district  composed  of 
the  counties  of  Shelby,  Effingham  and  Cum¬ 
berland.  This  body  was  known  as  the  32nd 
Ceneral  Assembly.  One  unusual  feature  of  this 
particular  body,  was  the  fact,  that  it  was  con¬ 
vened  in  a  second  or  special  session  on  the  call 
of  Governor  (now  Senator)  Shelby  M.  Cullom. 
.\s  a  rule,  but  little  attention  is  paid  to  new  mem¬ 
bers  ;  they  arc  sui)posed  to  spend  a  session  or 
two  as  apprentices ;  suchj.  however,  was  not  the 
case  with  Mr.  Chafee.  Me  was  at  once  ap])ointed 
chairman  of  the  Railroad  and  W  arehouse  Com¬ 
mittee,  and  served  as  acting  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  Judicial  Department  and  Practice, 
besides  holding  other  important  i)osts.  lie  was 
a  leader  in  debate,  and  whenever  he  took  the 
door  he  seldom  yielded  it  until  those  oi)posing 
him  "took  to  the  woods."  Those  deserving  it. 
generallv  received  their  full  portion  of  the  biting 
sarcasm  and  bitter  invective  of  which  Mr.  Chafee 
is  so  easily  a  master. 

( )n  one  occasion,  the  Soldiers  ( )rphans' 
Home  at  Xormal  was  being  attacked  by  its  ene¬ 
mies.  Chafee  had  taken  the  door  and  was  ap- 
])ealing  to  the  members  to  vote  the  necessary 
a])propriation  for  its  support.  Durfee  of  Deca¬ 
tur,  interrupted  Chafee  and  demanded  informa¬ 
tion  as  to  how  long  the  republicans  intended  to 
vote  away  the  money  of  the  people  for  soldiers’ 
orphans,  stating  that  he  had  been  reading  Gulli¬ 
ver’s  Travels,  and  unless  the  republicans  ceased 
.s([uandcring'  the  public  money,  the  state  would 
be  washed  away  by  an  equally  indecent  and 
wasteful  use  of  the  taxes  the  i)eople  were  being 
comjielled  to  pay. 


Whereupon,  Chafee  turned  upon  him  and 
thundered  out :  "As  long  as  any  old  soldier  has 
the  virility  to  beget  a  child,  the  republican  party 
])roposes,  in  return  for  the  father’s  patriotism, 
to  care  for,  and  educate  such  child.  I  am  familiar 
with  Gulliver’s  Travels,  and  1  beg  to  inform  the 
gentleman  that  he  and  his  kind  are  using  the 
same  character  of  machinery,  in  their  efforts  to 
destroy  our  state  institutions,  as  was  put  into 
the  cpieen’s  palace,  and  they  will  prove  whollv 
inadeciuate  to  (piench  any  one  of  our  charitable 
or  benevolent  institutions."  It  is  needless  to 
add  that  the  approjiriation  went  through  bv  an 
( iverwhelming  majority. 

Mr.  Chafee  has  been  remarkably  successful 
as  a  business  man.  I>y  close  attention  to  his 
affairs  he  has  accumulated  much  projierty  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  Shelbv- 
ville,  and  all  without  sacrifice  of  the  tender  (piali- 
ties  necessary  to  well-rounded  character.  Xo 
man  is.  or  can  be.  more  charitable  than  he. 
Those  who  shall  read  this  article  and  know  Mr. 
Chafee,  will  appreciate  the  truthfulness  of  the 
statement,  that  never  at  any  time  or  under  anv 
conditions  has  he  refttsed  to  lend  a  helping  hand 
or  substantial  financial  assistance  to  the  worthy 
])oor,  humble  or  lowlv. 

He  has  probably  been  at  the  head  of  more 
enterprises  for  the  upholding  of  the  city  and 
county  than  any  other  man  ;  he  has  cleared  large 
tracts  of  land  and  in  this,  and  other  improve¬ 
ments,  has  ])robably  jtaid  to  the  laboring  men 
of  the  county  as  much,  if  not  more  money,  than 
any  other  one  man. 

Seemingly  cold  and  reseiw’ed,  those  who 
know  him  best,  well  understand  that  he  is  a  great 
hearted  man  and  a  genuine  type  of  the  American 
Christian  gentleman. 

In  ^lay,  1868.  he  married  Iiliss  X^.  Marie 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  Addison  Smith,  who  was 


139 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  county,  hut  who 
(lied  many  years  aj^o. 

Mrs.  Chafee  is  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Anthony 
'riiorntou  of  Shelhyville,  and  of  Col.  1).  C. 
Smith  of  Xormal,  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chafee 
have  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  dauf^hters, 
all  of  whom  have  ])as.sed  from  beneath  the  home 
roof,  and,  to  the  criedit  of  the  father  and  mother, 
it  is  pleasing-  to  state,  that  all  these  sons  and 
daughters  are  leading-  useful,  honorable  lives. 
The  tw(j  daughters  are  happily  married  and  live 
in  ISostcju,  Mass.  The  older  scju,  Dudley,  is  an 
architect  at  lUoomington,  this  state;  the  vounger 
son,  Dexter,  is  a  doctor  c^f  osteo])athy  at  A])ple- 
ton,  Wisconsin. 

justice  to  this  sketch  demands  the  mention 
of  one  other  matter.  'I'he  writer  believes  that  a 
man's  character  is  powerfully  influenced  and  di¬ 
rected  by  his  environments.  To  what  extent  Mr. 
Chafee  may  he  indebted  t<3  a  hap])v  and  sweet 


home  life  for  his  long  and  succe.ssful  career  as  a 
citizen  and  man  cannot  he  stated ;  he  probably 
does  not  know ;  hut  reference  to  the  marvelous 
powers  of  song  possessed  by  his  gifted  wife  ought 
not,  and  shall  not,  he  omitted.  Through  all  the 
years,  the  sentiment  and  power  of  this  influence 
must  have  been  a  source  of  inspiration  for  the 
man,  as  it  has  been,  and  still  is,  a  ])leasure  and 
hai)i)iness  to  her  multitude  of  friends,  Throimh 
all  the  years,  Mrs.  Chafee  has  never  been  too 
busy,  never  too  weary,  to  respond  to  calls  from 
her  people  for  the  exercise  of  this  rare  and  magi¬ 
cal  charm  she  ])os.se.sses.  Thrcjugh  all  the  vears 
she  has  sung,  as  no  other  could,  to  us,  as  a 
people,  in  the  name  of  home,  love,  religion, 
charity,  at  the  bedside  of  our  de])arting  ones, 
and  to  the  Icjiiely  and  bereft  on  earth,  and  for 
which  we  owe  to  her  a  debt  (jf  und\-ing  gratitude. 
1  he  life  of  Ceorge  1).  Chafee  can  never  be  prop¬ 
erly  written  without  this  mention  of  his  noble 
wife. 


I 


GEORGE  R,  GRAYBILL 


THE  PRESS  OF  SHELBY  COUNTY  FOR  SIXTY  YEARS. 


By  HONORABLE  (3EORGE  R.  GRAYBILL. 


(IIAPTEH  X. 


The  Press  is  tlie  world’s  informant.  The 
leaders  in  thought  and  action  in  the  world  of 
])rogress  learn  from  the  Press  what  has  been 
made  known.  Then  they  a])ply.  discover  and 
invent.  W’e  have  taken  the  term  Press  iii  its 
full  sense.  The  restricted  meaning  of  the  vord 
i.s — the  Newspaper  IVess. 

The  Press  is  the  herald  of  the  everyday 
life  of  the  people.  It  tells  of  your  birth,  your 
growth,  your  education,  your  social  life,  your 
business  entcqmise,  your  official  record,  your 
home  e.xperience,  your  death.  The  Press 
heralds  the  facts  of  human  e.xistence.  i)rogress. 
achievement.  It  teaches  history  and  science: 
about  men  and  things.  Popular  education 
comes  largely  through  the  Press.  Public  and 
private  enter])rise  are  largely  encouraged, 
stimulated  by  the  Press.  It  is  the  medium  of 
communication  between  the  individual  and  the 
public.  The  law  uses  the  Press  as  its  hand¬ 
maiden  to  proclaim  its  mandates :  and  to  pro¬ 
tect  the  taxpayers,  by  giving  ])ublicity  to  the 
l)ublic  business.  The  Press  is  the  open  iournal 
of  the  history  of  officialdom,  governmental 
afifairs,  and  as  much  of  the  ])rivate  life  of  your 
neighbor  as  you  have  any  right  to  know.  It 
moulds  public  opinion  and  then  reflects  it.  It 
tells  the  facts,  reasons  about  tbem.  suggests 
remedies  or  adverse  conditions  and  points  to 
the  practical  methods  for  securing  advantage. 
It’s  the  public’s  entertainer,  teacher  and  friend. 


Shelby  County  interests  were  first  aided  by 
a  ncwsi)a]ier  in  July.  1842.  when  W.  W.  llishop 
began  the  publication  of  tbe  first  ])aper  in  the 
county  in  Shelbyville.  It  was 

THE  OK.WV, 

and  it  bore  a  fitful  e.xistence  for  a  short  time, 
when  it  sank  beneath  the  unkind  waters  of 
failure  and  became  a  memory.  Air.  Pishop, 
feeling  himself  inadeiiuate  for  the  conditions, 
declined  to  Charleston,  went  to  the  .Me.xican 
war.  returned,  became  judge  of  Coles  county. 
W  bile  Mr.  liishop  was  a  brave  soldier  and  a 
good  Judge,  he  did  not  measure  uj)  to  the  abil¬ 
ity  necessary  to  conduct  a  successful  news- 
liajier  business.  Tbe  next  ambitious  gentle¬ 
man  was  Joseph  C.  Duncan,  who  established 
a  monthly  journal. 

THE  PR.MRIE  ELOWER. 

in  Shelbyville.  He  was  college-bred,  had  a  j)er- 
spicuous  style,  was  a  gifted  writer,  but  was 
rather  too  ])oetic.  not  practical  enough  to  meet 
the  pioneer  environments  and  d'he  Prairie 
h'lower  died.  Its  bloom  was  not  of  the  (luality 
to  attract  enough  shekels  to  ])ay  Mr.  Duncan’s 
grocer  and  clothier.  Later  we  liear  of  him  as 
a  successful  banker.  .\nd  this  is  another  c.x- 
ample  that  is  a  favorite  parado.x  with  a  banker 
— a  man  who  lacks  the  ability  to  win  success  in 
journalism,  yet  is  well  able  to  shine  as  a  banker. 

James  Shoaff  (father  of  the  i)resent  pro¬ 
prietor  of  The  Leader)  in  1842  was  a  printer  in 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Tlie  ( )ka\v  or  Tlic  Prairie  Flower  office  and  for 
awliile  conducted  'Die  Prairie  I'lower ;  hut  lie 
abandoned  this  field  and  afterward  indulj^ed  in 
journalism  in  Charleston. 

I'rom  aht)ut  i^^47.  Shelby  County  strug- 
i^led  aloiif^  without  a  newspaper  until  1H52, 
when 

TIIK  SllKLP.VX'lLLE  J'.AXXKR 

was  unfurled  to  the  breezy  life  of  the  free  de¬ 
mocracy  a  half  century  in  Illinois. 

W’m.  A.  Cochran  (brother  of  James  11. 
Cochran  of  Ash  (move,  where  he  now  resides) 
with  1).  .M.  Cantrill,  houj^ht  the  Illinois  (dohe 
office  in  Charleston  from  Jacob  1'.  Prown  and 
issued  the  first  number  of  The  llanner,  July. 
1S52.  The  Panner  had  the  vijii'orous  imjiress 
of  Mr.  Cochran’s  Jack.sonian  personality  and 
fouj^ht  valiantly  for  the  election  of  h'ranklin 
Pierce  for  President  and  Joel  Matteson  for 
(jovernor.  .Mr.  Cochran  withdrew  and  soon  a 
mortf>;'age  in  the  hands  of  \\’m.  A.  Harrison 
swallowed  the  plant  and  The  Panner  slept. 
Theophilis  Short  houj)^ht  the  sleejiing  mater¬ 
ial  and  in  1854  it  waked  for  business.  The  next 
year  P.  L.  Shutt  i)urchased  the  paper  and  made 
an  inde])endent  journal  of  it.  He  .sold  to  John 
\\’.  Johnson  September  15.  1858,  and  the  name 
was  changed  to 

THE  OK  AW  P.\TRI()T, 

which  he  continued  as  a  vigorous  advocate  of 
the  Stephen  Douglas  democracy.  February 
14,  i860,  Anthony  Thornton  (Our  (mand  ( )ld 
Man,  Judge  Thornton)  took  The  Patriot  and 
combined  it  with  The  Panner,  which  had  just 
started,  December  17,  1859,  under  the  proprie¬ 
torship  of  P.  E.  Shutt.  The  Patriot,  under  the 
firm  of  Thornton  &  Shutt,  as  printers  and  man¬ 
agers,  became  at  once  a  most  formidable  and 


infiuential  i)a])er.  Judge  'riiornton  tells  yet  of 
the  junket  to  Washington  City  given  to  western 
editors  by  the  P.  (  ).  Ry.  Co.  Mr.  Thornton 
soon  retired  from  the  field  of  journalism ;  but 
bis  clear  and  logical  style  has  often  since  been 
seen  in  the  newspaper  column  as  he  enriched 
its  pages  with  masterful  and  luminous  articles 
on  subjects  of  pressing  public  moment.  In 
July,  1863.  Mr.  Shutt  discontinued  The 
Patriot.  The  next  month  a  stock  comi)any  of 
leading  democrats  was  organized  and  in  the 
folknving  Se])tember  ai)peared  the  first  issue  of 

THE  SlllCElD’  COCXTV  EE.\DER. 

with  W.  .\.  'I'rower  (now  an  lunujred  retired 
citizen  of  this  city)  as  manager  and  11.  H.  Cool- 
idge  as  editor.  In  December  Mr.  Trower  took 
full  ownershi])  and  in  July.  1865,  .sold  a  half  in¬ 
terest  to  Rufus  Summerlin,  who  assumed  sole 
])roi)rietorship  in  .August.  Soon  thereafter, 
(leo.  R.  Wendling  bought  a  half  interest,  and 
the  name  of  the  i)ai)er  was  changed  to 

THE  CEXTRAE  ILLIXOIS  TIMES. 

Mr.  Wendling's  brilliant  and  dashing  edi¬ 
torials  were  a  feature  of  The  Times  for  about  a 
year,  when  he  sold  to  E.  P.  Stephenson  and  W. 
\\k  Hess.  In  October.  1867.  Stei)henson  & 
Hess  sold  to  Dr.  E.  E.  Waggoner,  who  sold  to 
Summerlin  in  1868,  when  vSummerlin  again 
named  the  i)aper  The  Shelby  County  Deader. 
For  three  years  ]\Ir.  Summerlin,  with  his  sons, 
braved  the  uneasy  seas  of  country  journalism 
with  The  Deader.  Mr.  Rufus  Summerlin,  now 
a  very  old  man,  but  erect  and  kind-hearted,  and 
candid  as  ever,  resides  with  his  son,  Eeon.  at 
Toledo.  Ill.  Eeon  is  “marvellously  ])ro])er”  as 
to  character  for  sobriety  and  honesty  and  re¬ 
cently  sold  his  newspaper  at  Toledo  to  devote 
his  whole  time  as  traveling  salesman  for  a 


1 42 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


])rinters'  material  concern.  Dolph,  another  son. 
is  doing  a  prosperous  l)nsiness  as  ])roi)rietor  of 
Tlie  Mattoon  Commercial.  All  the  Summer¬ 
lins  were  good  printers  and  gifted  writers.  In 
March,  1871,  Summerlin  sold  to  \\’.  A.  Trower. 
Januarv,  1873,  Trower  sold  a  half  interest  to  W. 
r>.  Marshutz,  who  sold  hack  to  Trower  in  1875. 
after  a  short  career  as  a  brilliant  original  writer 
and  manager.  Trower  continued  the  business 
with  his  genial  nature  and  careful  business 
method  in  a  successful  manner  until  1895. 
when  he  disposed  of  the  paper  to  N’allee  Har¬ 
old,  who  conducted  it  with  ability  till  1899. 
when  Geo.  \'.  Mechler  took  it,  and,  after  a 
short  caVeer  of  tireless  energy  and  peculiar 
method  sold  to  the  present  ])roprietor.  Thomas 
T).  Shoaff.  Harold  is  an  able  editorial  writer 
and  business  manager,  and  now  has  the  ofhee 
of  editor  in  a  stock  com])any  daily — The 
Portsmouth  (()hio)  Times.  Mechler  is  a  fra¬ 
ternal  order  i)romoter  with  his  home  in  Effing¬ 
ham.  Mr.  Shoaff  has  a  good  plant,  including 
a  MergcTitlialer  linoty])e  machine,  which  his 
son,  James,  operates.  Mr.  Slujaff  has  had  a 
life-time  of  e.\])erience  in  news])a])er  work,  is 
a  great  hustler  and  is  maintaining  the  reputa¬ 
tion  of  The  Leader  for  prosperity  and  influence. 

THE  SHELP.V  FREEMAN 

was  established  in  Shelhyville  by  Eli  Chittenden 
in  .\ugust,  i860.  He  bought  the  plant  from 
Pana  to  advocate  the  cause  of  the  republican 
jiarty.  His  management  was  not  of  the  kind  to 
meet  the  exciting  conditions  of  those  troublous 
times  and  in  the  spring  of  1861.  The  Freeman 
was  discontinued. 

THE  SHELP.V  COUNTY  UNION 
was  horn  May.  1863.  through  the  influence  of 


Judge  S.  \\’.  Moulton  and  Mr.  \\’.  J.  Henry, 
both  lawyers  here.  They  felt  that  the  cause  of 
the  Union  should  he  es])oused  by  some  news¬ 
paper  in  Shelhyville  and  induced  J.  \\’.  John¬ 
son,  a  bright  young  man  of  some  newspaper  ex¬ 
perience,  to  start  such  a  paper,  assuring  him  of 
their  financial  su])])ort.  Johnson  jnirchased  the 
defunct  Freeman  ]:)lant  and  began,  his  ])ros- 
pectus  st-.ting — “The  vShelhy  County  Union 
will  he  devoted  to  the  su])i)ression  of  the  rebel¬ 
lion  in  the  South,  and  Co])perheadism  in  the 
North."  Richard  Couch.  Ral  Carr  and  Jacob 
Swallow  (now  proprietor  of  The  Pana  Pallad¬ 
ium)  worked  in  the  office  and  Johnson’s  trench¬ 
ant  ])en  and  dauntless  courage  jrroduced  a 
strong  ])a])er.  In  July.  1864.  John  'S'oung 
took  a  half  interest  in  The  Union.  Johnson 
withdrew  in  February.  1865.  Then  Richard 
Couch  took  the  ])a])er  and  sold  a  half  interest 
to  P.  T.  Martin  in  March.  1867,  and  the  latter 
assumed  full  |)ossession  in  Julv.  1867.  Martin 
sold  an  interest  to  his  brother.  E.  H.  in  March. 
1871,  who  had  been  his  local  editor.  In  .\ug- 
ust.  1872,  another  brother.  H.  L..  became  a 
member  of  the  firm.  P.  T.  went  out  in  De¬ 
cember.  1873,  and  one  year  later  H.  L.  be¬ 
came  sole  owner,  and  he  has  managed  ahlv  and 
h?s  made  the  Union  a  paying  |)lant  since.  He 
began  issuing 

THE  DAILY  UNION 

in  January.  1887.  his  brother.  Harrv  M..  (now 
Shelhyville's  postmaster)  as  editor— and  he  filled 
the  post  with  marked  sprightliness.  The  Mar¬ 
tins  are  all  clear  and  forcible  writers  with  a 
flowing,  easy  style.  James  L.  Darby  succeed¬ 
ed  H.  M.  as  editor  and  manager,  and  The 
Daily  has  continued,  under  his  pen  and  man¬ 
agerial  methods,  to  he  bright,  breezw  prosper¬ 
ous  and  ])oimlar. 


143 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


SmCLI’.V  COUNTY  IXDKPKNDKNT. 

l)ej^an  its  career,  Auj^ust  6,  1H74.  with  Dr.  E. 
E.  W  asig'uiier  and  J.  Win.  Lloyd  as  editors 
and  i)ro])rietors.  While  the  pajier  was  called 
Independent,  it  was  democratic  from  the  first, 
as  any  who  knew  its  editors  would  know  and 
as  Its  salutatory  clearly  outlined  when  it  said  : 
"We  expect  to  stand  firmly  by  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  this  reiiuhlic,  that  governments  de¬ 
rive  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the 
governed  :  that  the  jiowers  not  delegated  to  the 
United  States  by  the  Constitution,  nor  jirohi- 
hited  by  it.  are  reserved  to  the  states,  respective¬ 
ly.  or  to  the  public ;  that  the  enumeration  in  the 
Constitution  of  certain  rights  shall  not  be  con¬ 
strued  to  deny  or  dis])arage  others  retained  by 
the  people.  >;<  *  opjxjsed 

to  a  protective  tariff,  to  the  national  banking 
system,  to  all  monoiiolies,  to  all  class  legisla¬ 
tion  bribery  and  corrujition." 

Mr.  Lloyd  withdrew  in  July.  1875.  and  Dr. 
Waggoner  took  sole  ownership  and  in  ( )ctober, 
1876.  he  said:  "llelieving  that  at  least  one  of 
the  three  or  four  democratic  newspapers  pub¬ 
lished  in  this  county  ought  to  bear  the  family 
name,  we  this  week  send  this  ])aper  out  to  its 
many  readers  and  friends  as 

THE  SHELL. YX  ILLE  DEMOCR.XT. 

and  hope  they  may  be  pleased  with  its  new 
name."  Dr.  Waggoner  was  a  ready,  lucid  and 
forceful  writer  and  regarded  as  one  of  the  best 
liolitical  editors  in  the  state :  and  made  The 
Democrat  an  infiuential  ])olitical  paper.  In 
-August,  1885  sold  to  T.  J.  and  Geo.  R.  Gray- 
bill.  In  1887,  February  i,  the  firm  l)ecame 
Graybill  l.ros.  &  Co.,  with  G.  XV.  Cook  as  the 
Co.  Geo.  R.  Graybill  was  editor  and  manager 
till  Cook  became  a  ])artner,  when  the  latter 
took  charge  of  the  management.  The  Demo¬ 


crat  has  a  large  circulation  and  is  a  p'rosperous 
and  infiuential  journal,  because  energy  and 
honesty  will  have  their  reward. 

THE  CHURCH  AND  HOME 

was  a  monthly  pajier  started  by  J.  L.  Douthit, 
which  he  named  ' 

OUR  L.EST  XVORDS 

about  .April,  1880.  He  ran  a  ])hohibition  weekly 
during  the  canpiaign  of  i88t):  and  .soon  after  he 
issued  two  ])ublications,  the  monthly  religious 
edition  and  the  weekly  jirohibition  edition.  The 
monthly  was  discontinued,  1890,  and  he  sold 
to  J.  S.  I.arnum  in  1892.  Mr.  Larnum  changed 
it  to  a  po])ulist  iiajier  and  called  it 

THE  LEOLLE’S  PALER. 

Mr.  I.arnum  was  a  good  writer,  but  his  paper 
was  not  patronized  well  enough  and  was  dis¬ 
continued. 

Air.  Douthit  soon  issued  another  monthly 
paper  called 

SIMPLE  TRUTH. 

In  ( )ctober.  1894,  he  bought  back  the 
name  and  has  since  ])ublished  Our  L.est  XX'ords. 
Air.  Douthit  is  a  talented  writer  with  a  remark- 
arbly  clear  and  logical  style  and  is  making  (). 
L.  W.  a  paper  which,  judged  from  a  prohibition 
standpoint,  is  one  of  the  best. 

-X.  AI.  .Anderson  bought  a  small  newspaper 
plant  from  Jose])h  Prior  of  Clinton,  Illinois, 
and  took  it  to  XX'indsor  and  began  the  ])ublic.a- 
tion  of 

THE  XVINDSOR  SENTINEL, 

Alay,  25,  1876.  On  January  7,  1877,  the  i)lant 
was  taken  to  Paris.  It  was  but  a  short  time. 


144 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


however,  till  the  wisdom  of  the  W  indsor  eiti- 
zens,  who  knew  that  a  local  paper  was  a  "-ood 
enterprise  for  the  delight  and  convenience  of 
the  people  of  the  village  as  well  as  a  great  force 
ttnvard  the  proper  growth  and  i)rogress  of  the 
connnnnity,  induced  Anderson  to  get  another 
l)lant  and  continue  The  Sentinel.  He  opened 
uj)  again  in  Alarch,  soon  changed  the  name  to 

THK  DOLLAR  SKXTIXKL, 

and  it  flourished  and  struggled  fitfully  till  Au¬ 
gust,  iS/p,  when  it  ceased,  the  ])lant  being  re¬ 
moved  to  vShelhyville.  Windsor  knew  another 
newspaper  enter])rise,  Alay  28,  1878,  when 

Warden  llros.  began 

'I'llL  WIXDSOR  HAZKTTh:. 

|.  L.  Warden  soon  became  sole  ])ro])rietor  and 
made  a  good  local  news])a])er  of  it.  It  next 
came  into  the  hands  of  Charles  and  'Phomas 
Aliner  (our  ])resent  Sheriff)  about  i88p,  and 
was  conducted  with  energy  and  ability  by  them 
till,  in  a  year  or  so,  they  sold  to  Win.  h*.  AIc- 
Cormick  (onr  present  Circuit  Clerk)  who  man¬ 
aged  it  with  good  business  method  for  about 
a  year,  when  he  dis])osed  of  it  to  Hart  Crider, 
who  sold  it  after  a  short  time  to  the  present 
])roprietors,  Lilly  &  Dunscomb,  who  have  an 
afl  home  jirint  paper  on  a  paying  basis.  Air. 
Dunscomb  is  a  fine  (irinter  and  Air.  Lillv  is  a 
good  editor  and  manager,  and  The  Cazette  is 
neat  and  pros])erous. 

THK  WI.XDSOR  ADA’OCATK 

was  a  thriving  local  paper  iinblished  in  Wind¬ 
sor  for  a  time,  about  1885,  by  I.  H.  and  Chas. 
(lilpin,  and  it  was  one  of  the  newsiest  and  best. 
Charley  Gil|  )in  was  a  ready  writer  and  a  good 
localizer. 


Al.  .\.  Hates  brought  jiress  and  type  from 
.Altaniont  and  issued  the  first  cojiy  of 

THK  STKWARDSOX  KXTKRHRISK. 

June  7.  1878.  .\.  Al.  Ander.son  and  11.  Alartin 

got  control  of  the  pajier  in  a  few  months.  Xot 
kmg  after.  C.  1).  Shumard  bought  .Anderson's 
interest.  In  June.  187^,  W.  H.  Town.send  took 
Shumard's  interest  and  the  business  was 
continued  as  Harry  Alartin  &  Co., 
and  in  the  December  following.  A.  Al. 
.\ndcrson  got  possession  and  for  a  time 
made  a  good  jiajier.  He  was  an  editor  of  force 
and  dash.  Sept.  16.  1887,  W.  11.  Kagen  and 
Zip  Wilson  started  the  Stewardson  Clipper. 
Air.  Wilson  steiiped  out  in  a  few  months  and 
I'agen  has  since  develojied  The  Clipjier  to  its 
present  force  as  a  good  local  pajicr,  a  paving 
business.  He  has  a  good  office,  a  giwid  circula¬ 
tion.  h'agen  is  genial  and  capable,  and  has  a 
po|)ular  [lajier. 

\\  hen  a  stock  comiiany,  conpiosed  of 
prominent  Creenbackers.  purchased  the  Wind¬ 
sor  Sentinel  in  1879.  they  issued  the  first  num¬ 
ber  of 

THK  CRKKXHACK  IIKRALD 

in  Shelbyville.  (  )ctober  18,  1879.  d'om  Stuart 
and  C.  W.  Cook  ran  tbe  paper.  Cook  was  a 
young  ])rinter  with  a  genius  for  good  manage¬ 
ment  and  (|uick  and  artistic  work  as  a  (irinter, 
and  Stuart  was  a  lirilliant  writer,  and  had  the 
"rag  baby  not  sickened  with  what  (moved  its 
fatal  disease,  later.  The  Herald  no  doubt,  would 
have  develojied  to  a  permanent  and  a  leading 
place  in  country  journalism.  Cook  withdrew. 
Stuart  died  and  the  management  was  taken  bv 
AL  A.  Hates,  who  was  succeeded  b\'  Charles 
Reeves,  and  he  by  Elder  Linn  ;  and  then  Afr. 
Eaton  of  Champaign  had  charge  awhile. 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


Tower  Hill  first  knew  tlie  delifjht  of  its 
own  i)ai)er.  Anj^ust  20,  1880,  wlien  M.  A.  Hates 
establislied 

TIIK  TRl’H  DEMOCRAT 

tliere.  Xoveinher  15  of  tlie  first  year  of  its  life. 
Jacob  Swallow  of  The  I’ana  I’alladinin  bought 
The  True  Democrat  and  made  an  independent 
paper  of  it.  and  after  it  had  been  run  awhile  by 
Xin  Alexander  it  was  gathered  to  its  fathers. 
T.  Holt  (X  1.  K.  Story  next  essayed  the  rug¬ 
ged  seas  of  newspaperdom  in  Tower  Hill  with 

THE  TOWER  11 1  EE  HREEZE 

about  i8(;2.  In  about  a  year  Mr.  Holt  took  full 
control.  It  was  not  long  till  Holt  died,  when 
E.  (i.  Huntoon  bought  the  plant  and  ran  the 
])aper  awhile.  d'hos.  P.  Smith  took  it  from 
him  about  1896.  and  held  it  about  six  months, 
when  he  sold  to  W.  1C.  McCormick,  who.  for 
about  a  year  held  it.  when  he  sold  to  H.  J. 
Hamlin  and  C.  W.  Steward:  and  they,  feeling 
unable  to  undertake  continuance  of  the  enter¬ 
prise.  sold  to  U.  G.  Huntoon.  who  has  since 
managed  The  Hreeze  with  ability,  it  being  pop¬ 
ular.  breezy  and  a  ])aying  business,  of  great 
value  to  the  town  as  well  as  to  Mr.  Huntoon. 

J.  Win.  Eloyd  and  Geo.  R.  Wendling.  in 
January.  1868.  presented 

THE  COMMERCIAE. 

which  they  published  for  awhile  as  a  trade 
l)ai)er.  Other  enterprises  of  like  character 
were  started  and  soon  ended,  either  because 
they  had  served  their  purpose  or  because  they 
did  not  jiroduce  results.  ( )ne  of  these  was 

THE  APEARY. 

started  by  E.  Homrighous  and  J.  W.  Johnson, 
who  made  it  interesting ;  but  they  soon  let  it 
fall. 


In  June.  1893.  W.  S.  Haichley  began  pub¬ 
lishing 

Till-:  sigi-:e  advocati-:, 

and  continued  with  profit  to  Sigel  and  more  or 
less  benefit  to  himself  till  he  sold  to  W.  .A. 
Smith  in  ( )ctober.  1896.  when  the  present  pro- 
jirietor.  P.  C.  'I'rager.  took  ownsershi])  and  has 
since  been  making  it  a  good  local  paper  that  is 
doing  Sigel  and  Mr.  Trager  profit. 

It  was  1872  that  J.  E.  Harner  established 

Till-:  COM  DEX  HERAED. 

In  1888  X.  E.  McGrail  began 
THE  COW'DEX  EXTER PRISE. 

In  1889  1-:.  W.  .\nderson  established 

THE  COM  DEX  HERAED. 

W.  11.  Taylor  took  charge  of  'I'he  Herald  in 
i8(;i.  and  carried  forward  the  business  for 
about  two  years.  These  new.sjjajier  enter])rises 
in  Cowden  were  attended  with  more  or  less 
success,  the  village  having  a  paper  most  of  the 
time  till  March.  18.  1892,  when  the  jiresent 

office  of 

THE  ri-:eeector 

was  established  by  ( ).  A.  Jewett,  and  it  has 
since  been  doing  a  fairly  good  business.  It 
was  inde])endent  in  jiolitics  till  a  few  years  ago. 
when  it  became  a  republican  ])a])er.  Mr.  Jewett 
has  a  ])opular  prsonality  and  is  making  a  good 
l)aper. 

There  have  been  several  newspapers  start¬ 
ed  in  Herrick,  but  they  did  not  last  long.  The 
last  one  there  was  by  J.  .A.  Quicksall,  who 
moved  his  plant  to  Strasburg  in  1899. 


146 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


( )conec  had  several  ne\vspa])ers  started 
iKit  they  all  soon  fell  by  the  wayside,  and  she 
now  has  none. 

It  was  in  June.  1872.  that  A.  M.  Anderson, 
editor,  and  John  P.  Marnel.  as  publisher,  issued 
the  first  newspaper  ever  in  Mowea(|na.  and 
called  it 

THE  .MOWEAgPA  REGISTER. 

.Anderson's  incisive  editorial  style  was  enjoyed 
hy  the  Alcnveaciuans  till  December.  1875.  when 
it  was  sold  to  Arnold  Huj^hes.  the  ])ayinent 
Ijelng  guaranteed  by  ten  leading  citizens  of  the 
village  who  knew  the  worth  to  a  town  of  a 
newspaper.  For  about  two  years  Hughes  ran 
it  alone — when  the  enterprise  was  no  more — 
the  material  passing  to  the  citizens  who  stood 
surety  for  him.  After  about  a  year,  the  7th  of 
March.  1878.  E.  M.  Hughes  bought  the  plant 
and  started  The  Register  again,  and  fought  ad¬ 
verse  conditions  for  another  two  years,  when  it 
ceased — the  plant  being  taken  away.  January 
12.  1882.  O'llanion  &  Co.,  of  Maroa.  started 

THE  AIAIE 

in  Mowea<iua  with  W  .  .A.  Steidley  (now  a  suc¬ 
cessful  newsi)a])er  man  in  Louisiana),  as  editor. 
It  was  printed  in  Maroa  and  distributed  in  Mo- 
weacpia  till  March.  1882.  when  Steidley  bought 
it  and  opened  up  at  home  in  Aloweacjua.  In 
the  following  September  C.  M.  Hiter  and  A. 
('lilliland  bought  it  and  within  the  year  sold  it 
to  J.  W.  Crane.  In  August.  1886.  Hiter  issued 

THE  CALL. 

which  later  came  into  the  hands  of  Pease  Pros., 
and  then  Fred  &  Rurres.  and  finally  to  Winter 
&  Xeblock.  In  May.  1889.  W.  A.  Steidlev  took 
it  and  combined  it  with  The  Alail.  which  had 


been  moving  along  through  the  efforts  of 
Crane;  then  Johnson  &  Elsum.  and  then  Pease 
Pros.,  tin  sold  to  Steidley.  July  26.  1889.  at 
which  time  he  gave  his  paper  the  name  of  both. 

THE  CALL-MAIL. 

April  1 1  1893.  the  present  proprietor  and  editor. 
Pryce  P.  Smith,  bought  and  has  since  been 
making  a  jironounced  success  of  the  i)aper  as 
a  money-maker,  and  an  infiuence-maker.  It  is 
today  ])uhlished  in  its  own  building,  has  a  mod¬ 
ern  ])lant  and  enjoys  jirosiierity. 

E.  I).  Paeon.  W  in.  Whitworth.  Pella  A. 
Whitworth.  J.  E.  Gregory  and  Josiah  Perry 
formed  a  stock  company  and  placed  J.  H. 
Rockwell  in  charge  as  editor  and  manager  of 
what  they  called 

THE  SHEEP V  COLXTV  REPLPLICAX. 

(  )n  (lood  I'riday.  1893.  issue  came  out. 

In  about  three  months  the  editorial  chair  show¬ 
ed  up  vacant  and  The  Reiuihlican  had  “shuffled 
off."  Fred  S.  Pease  and  Lee  Dale  bought  the 
plant  via  the  mortgage  sale  route  and  jiresented 
their  first  nnmher  of 

THE  SHELPV  COL’XTV  CITIZEX. 

June  22.  18(^3.  For  less  than  half  a  year  it  re¬ 
posed  in  a  “Peaceful  Dale,  as  it  were."  a  mem¬ 
ory.  Then  C.  W.  Crane  took  the  material  and 
lirodnced 

THE  MOWEAQLA  REPLPLICAX. 

History  rejieated  itself  again  and  the  ])lant  sank 
ont  of  sight.  October  ii.  1894.  Mrs.  Wm. 
W  hitworth  got  possession  of  the  office,  added 
material,  and  has  since  carried  forward  the  en¬ 
terprise  with  jiatience.  energy  and  ability,  and 


147 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


the  i)ai)er  has  intluence  and  standing'  as  a  con¬ 
sistent  I<e])ul)lican  organ  and  a  reliable  busi¬ 
ness  concern. 

In  Findlay,  December  3,  i8(;2,  J.  (I.  Cut¬ 
ler  brought  forth  the  first  number  of 

TIIF  I'lXDL.W  ICXTERPRISK. 

In  May,  Hubert  Wright  bought  the  i)a])er.  who 
conducted  it  with  honor  and  credit  till  May, 
i8(j6,  when  he  sold  to  John  W  .  Moore,  who 
bravely  bore  aloft  its  banner  till  the  sheriff  sold 
it  in  August,  1897.  It  was  resurrected  in  a 
short  time,  by  its  founder,  J.  ('>.  Cutler,  who  had 
been  a  Chicago  jjrinter  after  he  sold  out  ;  and 
he  has  since  been  carrying  forward  'fhe  iCn- 
terprise.  lie  bought  both  outfits  new  from 
Chicago  to  conform  to  what  he  thought  a  vil¬ 
lage  newsi)aper  plant  should  be  and  now  has 
a  ])aving  business.  Mr.  Cutler  has  good  busi¬ 
ness  methods  and  enjoys  the  res])ect  of  a  good 
constituency.  'I'he  ICnterprisc  was  independent 
in  politics  till  September,  njoo,  when  it  an¬ 
nounced  that  it  would  from  then  be  a  republi¬ 
can  ])aper. 

In  Xovember,  18(^5,  W.  11.  Fagen  started 
a  little  newspa])er  in  Strasburg,  with  Harry 
Cartlidge  as  editor.  In  May,  1896,  he  sold  to 
'fhoinas  Inman,  who  camducted  it  till  the  fol- 

f 

lowing  December,  when  it  suspended.  Cart¬ 
lidge  and  Inman  made  neat  and  reliable  i)apers 
and  helped  their  town  by  advertising  it  through 


their  editorials  and  their  ads — but  the  field  was 
too  small,  and  could  not  sup])ort  it.  Mr.  j.  11. 
(Juicksall  started 

THK  11  FRAU), 

which  he  is  now  managing  with  a  degree  of 
success. 

'I'he  Snelby  County  Press,  today,  embody¬ 
ing  ( )ur  Rest  W Ords,  'I'he  Cnion,  'I'he  Leader, 
'1  he  Democrat,  in  Shelbyville ;  'I'he  Freeze  in 
'Power  Hill;  'I'he  Republican  and  'Phe  Call-Mail 
in  Moweacpia ;  'Phe  Reflector  in  Cowden  ;  'Phe 
hhiterprise  in  h'indlay ;  'Phe  Cazette  in  W’ind- 
s(n';*'lhe  Herald  in  Strasburg;  'Phe  Cli])i)er  in 
Stewardson  and  'Phe  Advocate  in  Sigel — thir¬ 
teen  news|)apers — most  of  them  managed  to 
produce  profits  about  eipial  to  the  i)rofits  re¬ 
sulting  from  other  legitimate  business  with  the 
same  investment  and  managed  with  the  same 
energ\  and  sense,  is  a  considerable  part  of  the 
business  activity  and  moral  influence  of  Shel¬ 
by  county.  'Phirteen  agencies  are  continuously 
commending  before  the  public  every 
good  exami)le  of  successful  achieve¬ 
ment  in  moral  worth  in  business, 
politics  and  social  life.  The  Press  is  constant! v 
urging  public  enter])rise,  official  honesty,  social 
purity  and  ])rivate  virtue.  I'he  editors  and  ])ro- 
])rietors  of  these  concerns  are  some  of  our  best 
and  most  ])ublic-si)irited  citizens.  'Phe  Shelby 
County  Press  is  the  friend  of  ])rogress  and  is 
receiving  a  loyal  suj)])ort  from  our  a])preciative 
])eo])le. 


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•^TTL 


DR.  GEORGE  \V.  MAUZEY 


THE  SCHOOLS. 


CIl.Vl’TKIi  ,\l. 


The  j^reat  commonwealth  of  Illinois  is 
justly  proud  of  her  public  school  system,  which 
occupies  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  the  school 
systems  throug^hout  the  states  of  the  L  nion. 
Prior  to  the  year  1853.  however,  matters  per¬ 
taining  to  education  had  been  in  rather  a  con¬ 
fused  state,  no  law  having  as  yet  been  enacted 
which  was  satisfactory  to  the  people  at  large. 
Kre(iuent  changes  were  made  in  the  school 
laws,  but  their  betterment  seemed  to  go  from 
had  to  worse  until  it  looked  as  though  the  edu¬ 
cational  affairs  of  the  state  were  assuming  a 
chaotic  condition. 

In  the  year  above  mentioned  the  General 
.\ssend)ly  passed  a  hill  bearing  upon  the  sub¬ 
ject.  which  was  introduced  by  Honorable  S.  W  . 
Moulton,  of  Shelbyville.  Ily  the  provisions  of 
this  bill  the  office  of  State  Superintendent  was 
made  a  separate  one,  to  be  filled  by  appointment 
by  the  Governor  until  the  general  election  in 
1855.  and  bi-ennially  by  election,  thereafter: 
and  directed  the  superintendent  who  should  be 
a])pointed  to  frame  a  bill  for  the  unification  of 
the  school  system  of  the  state.  Hon.  N.  \V. 
Edwards  was  appointed  the  first  State  Superin¬ 
tendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  to  him  be¬ 
longs  the  honor  of  framing  such  bill  as  spoken 
of  above,  which  was  readily  accepted  by  the 
Legislature,  and  adopted  as  a  law,  February  15, 
1858.  This  system  was  the  first  to  really  make 


the  schools  free,  by  providing  for  a  sufficient 
state  and  local  tax  for  their  su])i)ort.  and  it  con¬ 
stitutes  the  body  of  the  ])resent  excellent  free 
school  system  of  Illinois.  lm])ortant  modifica¬ 
tions  have  been  made  from  time  to  time,  not- 
<■  bly  in  1S72  and  187^.  The  management  of  the 
system  is  in  the  hands  of  a  board  of  three  direc- 
tcjrs,  one  elected  each  year  for  three  vears.  for 
each  district ;  a  board  of  trustees,  elected  in  the 
.same  manner,  with  a  treasurer  whom  thev  ap- 
])oint  bi-ennially,  for  each  township ;  a  countv 
su])erintendent.  elected  for  four  vears,  for  each 
county  ;  and  a  state  su])crintendent.  elected  for 
four  years. 

The  sources  from  which  the  common 
school  and  other  ])ublic  educational  revenue  is 
derived,  are  as  follows :  The  three  per  cent, 
fund,  surplus  revenue,  seminary  funtl.  countv 
fund,  township  fund,  fines  and  forfeitures,  the 
state  a|)i)ropriation  of  one  million  dollars  an¬ 
nually,  and  the  district  ta.x  fund.  ( )n  petition 
of  fift\  qualified  voters,  boards  of  trustees  are 
authorized  to  establish  township  High  schools. 
Provision  is  made  for  lioards  of  education  with 
s])ccial  powers,  in  districts  having  two  thou¬ 
sand  or  more  inhabitants. 

Such  is  a  brief  statement  of  the  general  out¬ 
lines  of  the  present  school  system  of  our  state  : 
and  founded  upon  such  a  system  it  is  not  a 
source  ot  wonder  that  there  has  been  such  a 
steady  and  wonderful  development  in  our 
schools,  and  they  must  ever  continue  to  be  the 
first  means  for  securing  the  jirosperitv  and  hap- 
])iness  of  our  commonwealth. 


149 


HIS  TORIC  SKETCH. 


'I'llK  EARLY  SCIIOOI.S. 

In  scope,  character  and  iiiHiience  tlie  early 
schools  of  Shelby  comity  were  not  unlike  those 
of  other  new  districts.  .\inons>st  the  early  set¬ 
tlers  conld  occasionally  he  found  one  who 
would  voice  such  a  sentiment:  "1  never  had  no 
eddication  an’  my  children  can  "it  aloii"  as  1 
have;"  Init  such  irrational  parents  were  scarce. 
Most  of  the  jiarents,  realizni"  that  their  own 
success  and  usefulness  had  been  retarded  by  a 
lack  of  education,  were  an.xious  that  their  chil¬ 
dren  should  have  better  educational  advanta,ijes 
than  they,  themselves,  had.  They  jierhaps  had 
never  heard  the  old  proverb,  little  learniiif.^ 
is  a  dang-erous  thing or,  hearing  it,  they  were 
slow  to  believe  it,  and  were  (piite  willing  to  be¬ 
lieve  the  "dangerous  thing"  something  worth 
seeking.  Tims,  among  the  sturdy  pioneers 
there  were  many  warm  friends  and  advocates 
of  schools.  Resulting  from  this,  schools  were 
established  with  almost  the  first  settlement  of 
the  county,  and  always  in  a  neighhoriiood  just 
as  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  pu])ils  could 
he  gathered. 

• 

We  shall  not  atteinjit  a  coni])arison  of  the 
early  schools  with  those  of  today,  for  it  would 
resolve  itself  into  a  "contrast."  Still  the  old- 
time  school  had  its  mission,  the  old  school-mas¬ 
ter  his  duties  ;  and  how  faithfully  and  self-sacri- 
ficingly  these  were  met  is  fully  attested  by  many 
for  whom,  in  those  schools  and  by  those  mas¬ 
ters,  was  laid  the  foundation  of  a  splendid  edu¬ 
cation  which  has  prepared  them  for  occupying 
irositions  of  trust  and  honor  among  men. 
Many  a  man,  prominent  in  public  life  in  the 
recent  past,  could  point  back  to  the  little  log 
school  house  of  ])ioneer  days,  and  say :  "There¬ 
in  was  the  beginning  of  my  success."  All  honor, 
then,  to  the  "old  master"  who,  with  ferule  or 


hazel-switch  would  enforce  his  commands  and 
preserve  the  dignity  of  the  school. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  old-style  school 
master  was  generally  an  individual  whose  fit¬ 
ness  for  the  position  he  assumed  was  attested 
by  the  fact  that  he  had  never  succeeded  at  any¬ 
thing  else,  and  for  whom  dame  Nature  had 
done  little,  and  culture  nothing  at  all.  lie  that 
as  it  may,  yet.  there  were  among  the  early 
teachers  and  those  who  were  in  the  ranks  sixty 
years  ago,  men  of  genuine  worth,  possessed  of 
much  good,  sound  sense,  who,  if  they  could  not 
im])art  information  concerning  Latin  roots  and 
Clreek  verbs,  were  able  to  and  did  instil  into 
their  pupils  much  of  that  which  was  of  more 
])iactical  use  to  them  in  their  early  life  in  a 
"new"  country.  It  is  remembered  that  amongst 
the  teachers  in  the  "thirties  and  forties"  coidd 
now  ami  then  be  found  a  college  man,  and  a 
genius  was  not  uncommon.  ICven  a  graduate 
of  ^'ale,  who  had  rejrutation  for  poetical  ])ro- 
ductions,  was  amongst  the  number. 

The  first  school  in  the  comity  of  Shelby 
was  taught  by  one  Moses  Story,  who  was  the 
forerunner  of  the  hundreds  of  able  teachers 
who  have  since  honored  the  jirofession.  For 
a  (juarter  of  a  century  after  he  finished  the  first 
term,  he  was  a  well  known  character  of  the 
county,  and  is  yet  kindly  remembered  by  many 
who  knew  him  in  those  days. 

Elias  Miller  was  another  of  the  pioneer 
teachers  of  whom  honorable  mention  should  be 
made.  Pie  came  to  the  county  before  its  or- 
^ganization,  and,  being  a  widower,  made  his 
home  with  llarnet  Hone.  For  several  years  he 
was  engaged  in  teaching,  and  was  considered 
one  of  the  foremost  in  his  jirofession.  Later 
he  married  again,  and  lived  for  a  number  of 
years  in  Shelbyville.  Mr.  Miller  lost  his  life  by 
exposure  to  the  cold.  One  day,  during  the  win- 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


ter  of  1S37.  lie  started  for  Dry  Point  township 
to  visit  friends.  He  lost  his  way  in  the  timber, 
and  after  wandering-  about  until  evening  was 
obliged  .to  spend  the  night  in  the  woods.  It 
was  bitterly  cold,  and  death  resulted  from  the 
e.xposure.  John  Price,  the  ('ireens,  ’Scpiire  R. 
Davis,  and  .Addison  Smith  were  also  well- 
known  teachers  in  the  early  days.  Davis  was 
the  man  who  discovered  a  new  method  for 
solving  arithmetical  problems,  and  Smith  was 
the  teacher  who  first  taught  the  rustic  youths 
that  the  earth  was  s])herical. 

The  first  school  house  in  this  county  was 
built  in  1821.  in  that  region  now  known  as  Pig 
Siiring  township,  and  stood  on  or  near  the  land 
upon  which  ( )rmsby  X’anwinckle  settled. 
Doubtless  in  it  was  taught  the  first  school  of 
the  county,  being  the  one  conducted  by  Mr. 
Story.  This  school  house  was  a  neat  hewn-log 
structure,  more  comfortable  than  some  which 
were  erected  Ir.ter.  These  jirimal  ‘‘institutions 
of  learning”  were  of  a  verv  crude  tyjie  of  archi¬ 
tecture.  They  were  built  of  logs,  generally  un¬ 
hewn,  chinked  and  daubed,  and  having  a  capac¬ 
ious  fire-place  at  one  end  of  the  room.  The 
aarth  was  often  the  onlv  floor,  though  in  some 
of  them  ])uncheons,  or  S])lit  logs,  served  as  a 
floor.  Others,  built  for  use  only  during  the 
summer,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  little 
children,  were  without  windows,  light  being  ad¬ 
mitted  through  the  o])en  doorway  and  through 
the  cracks  which  were  found  between  the  logs. 
It  was  but  seldom  that  glass  was  used  in  the 
windows  which  did  exist,  greased  ])a])er  serv¬ 
ing  in  the  stead  of  that  commodity.  The  furni¬ 
ture  was  of  the  rudest  ty])e  and  contrasts  ])ain- 
fully  with  that  of  our  modern  school  houses. 
For  a  desk  for  writing  purposes  thev  had  a 
rough  shelf  along  one  side  of  the  room,  while 
a  split  log.  with  the  flat  side  smoothed  with  the 


adz,  and  sni)poi  ted  on  wooden  pins,  served  as  a 
bench  upon  which  to  seat  the  scholars. 

d  he  individual  plan  of  instruction  was  the 
system  generally  followed.  The  first  class  in 
the  morning  was  called  to  recite  bv  the  teach¬ 
er's  (juick,  shar]) ;  ‘‘Rise:  manners:  take  your 
seats.  "  'I'lien  followed  slow  ,  monotonous,  ex- 
piessionless  reading  of  each  ])upil  in  turn.  'I'he 
reading  concluded,  the  class  turned  and  swung 
their  feet  over  the  bench  toward  the  wall  and 
the  "  ‘ritin’  "  began  :  in  which  exercise  they 
nsed  co])y-books  made  from  ])lain  foolscap,  and 
attempted  to  imitate  the  ‘‘co])y'  at  the  top  of 
the  page,  which  had  been  placed  there  by  the 
master.  Follow  ing  thi^  was  the  ‘‘rithmetic  " 
lesson,  which,  like  the  writing  exercise,  occn- 
l)ied  much  of  the  teacher's  time  and  attention, 
as  he  usually  had  to  fre(|uently  refer  to  the 
manuscript  book  in  his  desk,  in  which  all  the 
problems  in  the  arithmetic  had  been  worked 
out.  or  the  .solutions  copied  from  the  book  of 
sc/ine  old  schoolmaster.  In  the  meantime  the 
second  class  had  its  turn  at  "the  three  R's." 
and  so  on.  down  to  the  youngest  child,  who  had 
been  sent  to  scIuk)!  for  the  sole  ])urpose  of  re¬ 
lieving  the  mother  of  its  care.  'I'hese  earlier 
schools  served  their  ])urpose.  but  gradualF 
gave  way  to  better  ones  that  prepared  the  way 
for  the  most  excellent  schools  of  the  ])resent. 

The  second  school  about  which  anv  infor¬ 
mation  can  be  gleaned,  and  the  first  to  be 
taught  in  Shelbyville,  was  conducted  in  the  old 
log  court  house  in  1827,  by  Joseph  (  )Iiver.  a 
])rominent  character  in  the  early  affairs  in  the 
county.  Mr.  (  )liver  served  as  postmaster  at 

this  time.  and.  for  lack  of  better  accommo<la- 
/ 

tions,  kept  the  mail  in  his  hat.  Thus  the  post 
office  was  wherever  Mr.  O.was  to  be  found.  The 
old  court  house  was  used  as  a  school  house  for 
many  years: here  John  Perryman  taught  1111831 
and  .Addison  Smith  \ears  after:  Charles  \\ Ood- 


'5  I 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


ward,  still  a  resident  of  Shelhyville.  oceupied  it 
in  1841.  'I'here  was  usually  a  sehool  of  some 
kind  in  the  villaj^e,  hut  no  huildint^  to  he  used 
exelusively  for  sehool  jjurposes,  was  ereeted 
until  the  huildinj^  of  the  Academy  in  1854.  The 
first  school  in  the  same  township,  hut  east  of 
the  river,  was  tauj^ht  in  1831,  hy  Daniel  J. 
(ireen,  in  a  small  lo},^  cabin.  lUishrod  \\  . 
llenry  taui^ht  in  the  .same  house  seven  years 
later,  and,  in  the  same  year,  S.  R.  Davis  taught 
wdiere  (  )ak  ( irove  Chapel  was  afterwards  built. 

'file  second  school  house  in  the  county  was 
built  in  1832,  in  Richland  townshi]).  It  was 
built  of- round  hickory  logs,  and  the  windows 
were  of  greased  jiaiier.  James  Rouse  and  W  il- 
liam  Robinson  were  the  first  teachers  to  wield 
the  rod  and  instruct  the  youth  of  that  locality 
in  “book-learning." 

In  .\sh  (irove  township,  John  Price  was 
the  first  teacher,  holding  school  in  an  em])ty 
cabin  on  his  ])lace  ;  the  second  was  taught  in  a 
cabin  on  the  farm  of  A.  (j.  Frazer,  by  a  one- 
armed  man  named  Younger  Cmeen.  This  man 
afterwards  taught  the  first  school  in  the  first 
school  house,  a  small  log  building  erected  on 
the  .southeast  corner  of  Section  4,  and  which, 
for  several  years,  was  without  any  other  floor 
than  the  bare  earth. 

Th  first  school  house  in  the  northwestern 
]iart  of  the  county,  was  built  in  Flat  Rranch 
townshi]),  near  the  centre  of  Section  12;  and 
being  centrally  located,  was  largely  attended  bv 
children  of  surrounding  townshi])s.  David  Si¬ 
mon  was  the  first  teacher,  and  J.  C.  Rodman 
the  second.  The  first  school  building  in  \\’ind- 
sor  township  was  built  in  1835;  near  the  l’>en 
liruce  place  on  L’pper  Sand  Creek,  tht  first 
school  being  taught  by  S.  R.  Davis.  ( )ther 
early  teachers  were  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Jones, 
Sarah  Clay,  and  the  daughters  of  Addison 


Smith,  above  mentioned.  In  Uig  Sl)ring  town¬ 
ship  the  first  school  was  taught  by  'riiomas  l!ell/ 
in  an  empty  house  belonging  to  John  Si)ain.  S. 
R.  Davis  and  John  h'lennng  taught  in  llolland 
township  in  1837-38,  but  it  was  not  until  about 
1845  that  a  building  was  erected  for  school  i)ur- 
poses.  '1  his  was  on  Section  29.  near  the  Dan 
(lallagher  place.  In  ( fconee,  near  where  the 
Hinton  school  house  now  stands,  was  built  the 
first  one  in  that  townshi]).  .\  small  log  school 
house  was  built  just  north  of  where  Moweatpia 
now  stands,  in  1836.  and  "(  )ld  Hickory,"  a  log 
cabin  standing  near  the  centre  of  Section  3,  was 
doubtless  the  first  sclu)ol  house  in  'I'ower  Hill 
townshi]).  'file  old  "IChn  School  1  louse,"  on 
Section  34,  in  Rural  townshi]),  was  erected  in 

l>y  the  ye.ir  1850  nearly  all  of  the  town- 
shi])s  of  the  county  were  organized,  and  the 
management  of  the  local  affairs  was  turned  over 
to  the  board  of  trustees  and  directors,  and  from 
that  time  on  there  was  a  gradual  im])rovement 
in  the  schools  throughout  the  county.  Par¬ 
ticularly  was  this  noticeable  after  the  enactment 
of  the  new  school  law  in  the  early  50’s,  referred 
to  in  the  beginning  of  the  cha])ter.  'i'he  rough 
and  uncouth  school  houses  with  their  earthen 
or  i)uncheon  floors,  rough  benches,  and  greased 
])a])er  windows,  of  which  we  have  attem])ted  to 
give  some  little  idea  in  the  ])receding  ])ages, 
have  been  dis])laced  by  the  neat,  comfortable 
and  handsome  structures  of  frame  and  brick, 
which  are  now  to  be  found  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  county,  and  arc  nu¬ 
merous  enough  to  be  in  close  touch  with  everv 
home. 

\\  ith  all  due  re.s])ect  to  the  memorv  of  the 
teachers  whose  names  a])])ear  in  this  chapter, 
and  the  many  others  who  did  s])lendid  self- 
sacrificial  work  in  those  early  days,  we  still 
must  say  they,  whose  attainments  were  limited. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


and  whoso  al)ilities  wore  unclcvcloi)0(l.  have 
boon  siiporsodod  by  a  olass  of  toaohors  of  rare 
mental  and  teaching  ability,  who  are  in  the 
front  rank  of  their  chosen  profession,  and 
whoso  fitness  for  the  positions  they  occupy  is 
demonstrated  by  the  high  character  of  the 
schools  over  which  they  preside.  Shelby 
county  teachers  are,  as  a  class,  earnest  and  dili¬ 
gent  in  their  i)reparation  for  their  schoolroom 
duties,  devoted  to  their  work,  and  nntiring  in 
their  efforts  to  raise  the  already  high  standard 
of  their  res])ective  schools. 

'1  his  year,  1900,  there  are  in  the  comity  169 
school  districts,  with  170  school  houses.  There 
are  235  (pialified  teachers,  of  whom  120  are 
females.  'I'he  number  of  male  pu])ils  in  the  un¬ 
graded  schools  of  the  county  is  3,184;  females, 
2,969.  There  are  eleven  graded  schools,  with 
a  total  of  1,276  male,  and  1,262  female  pipiils, 
making  total  number  of  jnqiils  of  all  ages  in 
the  county,  8.691.  There  is  but  one  High 
school,  that  of  Shelbyville.  which  is  doing  most 
e.xcellent  work,  and  graduating  jmjiils  who  are 
in  attendance  from  all  parts  of  the  county. 

Superintendent  Randle  jiossesses  high 
(|ualifications  for  the  important  position  he  oc¬ 
cupies,  being  an  educator  of  rare  ability.  W  ith 
Principal  Roberts  and  a  large  corps  of  conijiet- 
ent  teachers  in  the  school,  Shelbyville  has  the 
reputation  of  having  the  best  i)ublic  and  High 
school  in  Central  Illinois.  The  building  in 
which  this  High  school  is  conducted,  was  built 
in  1869.  at  a  cost  of  about  $50,000,  and  is  a 
model  of  neatness,  convenience  and  beauty. 

The  estimated  value  of  all  projierty  in  the 
county  used  for  school  ])ur])oscs,  is  $200,000. 
a  great  increase  over  that  of  twenty  years  ago. 
The  amount  distributed  this  year  to  the  several 
township  treasurers,  from  the  state  school 
fund,  is  $7,727.01.  The  principal  of  the  town- 
shi])  school  fund  belonging  to  the  townships  of 


the  county,  is  $37,123.47.  This  is  a  loanable 
fund,  the  interest  upon  which  is  the  principal 
revenue  for  the  support  of  the  schools.  The 
s])ecial  levy  for  school  ta.x  for  1900.  was  $81,- 
031.46.  '1  he  names  of  the  several  townshij) 

treasurers,  with  their  post  office  addresses,  are 


given  as  follows  : 

'I'ownship.  Treasurer.  P.  (  ).  .\ddress. 

(  )conee.  10-1 . 15.  $.  Sloan . (  )conee 

(  )conee.  9-1 . 15.  1C  llurgess  . Shinkle 

Herrick . John  Adams . Herrick 

Cold  Spring . W’.  M.  h'ellers . Skates 

'I'ower  Hill . J.  W’.  Dean  ..  ..Tower  Hill 

Rural . \\’.  K.  Killam  ..'Power  Hill 

h'lat  llranch . P.  (P  Ludwig  ..Moweaipia 

.Moweacjua . 15.  H.  .Mcllenery  .Moweacpia 

Dry  Point.  9-3... James  W'.  Jones  .  .  .Cowden 
Dry  Point.  10-3... James  P>arton  ....Lakewood 

l-Jose . 1'.  1).  Crook  ...Shelbyville 

Ridge . John  W’.  l5oys ...  Shelbyville 

Pickaway . I5ryant  Corley  .  . .  Vantisville 

Penn.  13-3 . 15ryant  Corley.  .  . 'S'antisville 

Penn.  14-3 . 11.  H.  Wagner  Dalton  City 

Holland.  9-4 . M.  C.  15utler . h'ancher 

Holland,  10-4 . S.  T.  (>allagher  . Mode 

Shelbyville.  11-4...C.  W.  Steward.  Shelbyville 
Shelbyville.  C.  S.  W.  S.  .Middlesworth,  S'bv'e 

nkaw . ().  H  Stum])f . Findlay 

'Podd's  Point . E.  S.  Combs . F'indlav 

Prairie.  9-5 . W.  F.  Lane  . Shumley 

Prairie,  10-5 . D.  Alautz . Stewardson 

Richland . John  X.  Storm..  Strasburg 

W  ind.sor . F.  M.  Jones . Windsor 

Sigel . P'.  Hoene . Figel 

Figel . D.  Mautz  .  Stewardson 

Sigel . Wm.  Dooley  Trowbridge 

15ig  S])ring . W  m.  A.  Dooley  Trowbridge 

.\sh  Grove . Preston  Closon .  Sexson 


The  first  Teachers'  Institute  held  in  the 
county  was  in  Shelbvville,  in  the  summer  of 


153 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


1875.  John  Stai)leton,  tlicn  County  Superin¬ 
tendent,  T.  F.  Dove,  tlien  Superintendent  of 
Scliools  in  tlie  city,  and  Professors  McCormick 
and  De  (larmo,  of  the  State  Xonnal  I’niversity, 
were  the  four  j^entleinen  who  conducted  that 
Institute. 

'I'he  county  superintendency  is  an  iin])ort- 
ant  factor  in  hrin^inj^'  the  scliools  of  a  county  u]) 
to  a  hii^h  det>Tee  of  excellency.  'I'he  real  value 
of  this  superintendency  can  he  only  conjectured, 
not  estimated.  'I'he  work  of  a  ,t^ood,  conscien¬ 
tious  suiierintendent  is  arduous  and  his  duties 
imjioitant,  and  no  man  of  ordinary  (pialifica- 
tions  should  he  elected  to  such  a  iirominent  po¬ 
sition.  In  the  selection  of  County  Superintend¬ 
ents,  however,  Shelhy  has  been  sinj^ularly  for¬ 
tunate,  ever  havinj.^  placed  in  that  office  a  man 
eminently  fitted  to  dischar<re  its  duties,  and  to 
raise  the  educational  work  of  the  county  to  a 
still  higher  level ;  and  the  jiresent  incumhent, 
I.  A.  Montgomery,  is  no  exception  to  this  class. 

'File  first  school  commissioner  of  the  coun¬ 
ty  was  Josejih  (  )liver,  ajipointed  in  1831,  hold¬ 
ing  the  office,  with  several  others,  until  1H41, 
when  he  was  succeeded  hy  h'.dward  ICvey.  Mr. 
hivey  continued  in  service  until  succeeded  hy 
Judge  Moulton,  in  1853.  Samuel  King  was 
elected  to  that  office  in  1861,  and  served  four 
years,  or  until  1865.  In  that  year  the  title  of 
the  incumhent  of  the  office  was  changed  to 
"county  superintendent  of  schools,"  and  the 
term  extended  to  four  years.  Anthony  'F.  Hall 
was  elected  in  1865,  and  continued  in  office 
until  his  death  in  the  autumn  of  1872.  'Fhe 
vacancy  was  filled  hy  the  ap])ointment  of  E.  A. 
Mefirew.  John  Sta])leton  was  elected  in  1873; 
Homer  S.  Mouser  in  1877;  and  he  was  succeed¬ 
ed  hy  W  .  I!.  Marshutz;  M.  llarhee  was  the  suc¬ 
cessor  of  Mr.  Marshutz.  and  he.  in  turn,  was 
succeeded  hy  J.  A.  Montgomery. 


SIHCEP.V  SEML\.\RV. 

A  chapter  on  the  schools  of  the  county 
would  not  he  comjilete  did  it  not  cmitain  an  al¬ 
lusion  to  the  old  Shelhy  Seminary,  or  .Academy. 
'1  his  was  established  in  1854,  in  response  to  a 
popular  demand  for  an  institution  of  higher 
grade  and  character  than  the  schools  then  ex¬ 
isting.  I'])  to  that  time  there  had  been  no 
building  in  fshelbwille  devoted  solely  to  school 
pm  poses.  Imt  in  that  year  the  Shelhy  .\cademy, 
as  it  was  at  first  called,  was  erected  on  Xorth 
llroadway,  where  it  still  stands,  a  monument  to 
the  broad  minds  of  the  ])rogressive  citizens  who 
were  responsible  for  its  ince])tion  forty-six 
years  ago.  h'.arly  in  the  year  previous,  however, 
the  good  work  had  its  beginning,  hut  the  build¬ 
ing  was  not  ready  for  occupancy  until  ’54.  Hon. 
S.  \\  .  Moidton  was  tendered  the  princi])al.shi]). 
))Ut  it  was  declined  by  him.  'Fhen  Charles  \\'. 
Jerome,  a  teacher  in  the  Danville  Seminary, 
was  secured  for  the  position,  which  he  held  hrr 
fifteen  years,  barring  a  few  which  he  sjient  as 
a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  .Associated  with  Mr. 
Jerome  at  the  beginning,  was  R.  M.  Pell,  an 
able  assistant.  .About  seventy  ])U]rils  were  pres¬ 
ent  the  first  day,  which  number  increased  to 
one  hundred  before  the  end  of  the  term.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  vacation  the  school  was  extensively  ad¬ 
vertised  as  "Shelby  Male  and  Female  Acad¬ 
emy,"  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  second  ses¬ 
sion  there  was  an  increased  attendance,  and 
Rev.  C.  C.  Purroughs  was  made  precejrtor  and 
teacher  of  mathematics.  At  the  close  of  this 
session  Air.  Pell  retired,  and  Jasper  L.  Dou- 
thit  took  the  place  left  vacant.  Among  other 
teachers  who  were  employed  in  the  Seminarv 
during  its  existence,  were:  Miss  Oliva  .A. 
Smith,  Perky  Alyers,  Parker  M.  McFarland,  A. 
AI.:  Rev.  W’.  H.  Webster,  Eugenia  A.  Alorri- 
son,  Ann  E.  Rhoads.  Judson  .A.  Roundy,  Alar- 


154 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


ijaret  E.  (  )sl)on(l,  Mary  ( ).sI)on(l,  Thos.  Easter- 
(lav.  .\.  M.  Mess,  1).  \\’.  Jacoby,  Rev.  (E  A. 
I’ollock,  I’arkhurst  T.  Martin,  lone  S.  Daniels, 
James  M.  North,  Mrs.  .Anna  Headen,  Martlia 
('.  Kerr,  and  Mary  Hall. 

The  Seminary  liad  a  peculiar  missitjn  to 
fulfil,  that  of  ])re])arins-  the  way  for  a  suitable 
educational  system  in  Shelbyville,  and  well  did 
it  play  its  ])art.  The  establishment  of  the  school 
system  and  llit^h  school  was  the  sig'iial  for  the 
passiii”'  of  this  institutiem.  The  ])ro])erty  was 
transferred  to  the  Hoard  of  halucation  of  the 
city,  and  the  Shelby  •  Seminary  ceased  to  e.xist. 

No  one  can  estimate  the  value  of  its  work, 
or  measure  the  influence  it  still  has  over  the 
many  who  look  back  to  the  days  of  earnest 
educational  eftort  s])ent  within  its  walls,  as  the 
ha])])iest  of  their  lives  ;  and  in  their  memorv  live 
over  again  the  ex])eriences  and  associations 
which  have  left  their  impress  ujion  their  charac¬ 
ter.  Tt  is  ever  s])t)ken  of  with  reverence,  and 


will  never  cease  to  be  remembered  by  those  who 
knew  and  loved  it. 

Charles  W  .  Jerome,  mention  of  which  was 
made  as  the  first  ])rincipal  of  the  .Academy,  still 
lives,  and  is  a  resident  of  .Atlanta,  (>eorgia.  He 
is  revered  and  beloved  by  those  who  knew  him 
in  the  <jlden  days  as  a  faithful  friend,  an  earnest 
and  competent  educator,  a  kind  teacher  and  a 
thorough  Christian  gentleman  t)f  high  charac¬ 
ter. 

Lack  of  s])ace  compels  us  to  close  this 
brief  sketch  of  the  schools  of  Shelbyville.  W  e 
wall  say.  however,  that  our  schools  have  never 
before  been  in  the  excellent  condition  in  which 
they  are  now  to  be  found,  and  yet  the  improve¬ 
ment  still  continues.  .\nd  while  we  laud  the  ex¬ 
cellent  school  system  which  makes  this  possible 
we  must  not  forget  the  scores  and  scores  of 
noble,  self-sacrificing  teachers  of  the  ])ast  and 
])resent.  who  have  i>ut  into  this  work  the  very 
best  of  their  talents. 


SHELBY  COUNTY  IN  WAR, 


By  EL(3IN  H.  MARTIN. 


(IIAPTKK  Xll. 


TTie  County  of  Slielhy  took  its  nanic  from 
Isaac  Shelby,  lie  was  a  ])atriot — an  officer  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Such  heiiifj  the  case, 
those  who  came  after  him  mit^ht  naturally  he  ex¬ 
pected,  at  least  in  some  (lej,^ree,  to  he  like- 
minded.  .\  ])atriot  is  certain  to  inculcate  love  of 
country  amon^  his  associates,  and  that  Air. 
Shelby  did  this  is  shown  by  the  martial  spirit 
shown  by  his  successors  in  the  work  of  huildinj^ 
up  and  ”ivin^  foundation  to  a  new  country. 
.\mon^  the  early  settlers  of  the  country  were  a 
number  of  soldiers  of  the  war  of  1812.  Promi¬ 
nent  amon^  these  was  Josei)h(  )liver,  whom  many 
of  the  older  ])eo])le  of  the  county  yet  remember, 
for  he  lived  to  a  ripe  old  aj^'e.  He  and  two 
of  his  elder  brothers.  John  and  Richard,  served 
in  the  cavalry  against  the  Pritish,  and  did  val¬ 
iant  service. 

In  the  s])ring‘  of  1832.  lllackhawk,  a  Sac 
Indian  chief,  took  the  war  i)ath  with  his  war¬ 
riors  and  threatened  the  extermination  of  the 
white  settlers  of  Central  Illinois.  For  their  pro¬ 
tection  Cov.  Reynolds  called  for  several  hundred 
volunteers  and  ajjpointed  Ileardstown  as  their 
rendezvous.  The  call  was  responded  to  with  a 
imomptness  characteristic  of  a  truly  brave  people, 
and  none  res])onded  with  more  alacrity  than  did 
the  hardy  ])ioneers  of  the  good  county  of  Shel¬ 
by.  Parts  of  two  com])anies  were  raised  in  this 
county.  These  companies  were  commanded  by 
Captains  Daniel  Price  and  Peter  Warren. 


.\mong  those  who  enlisted  from  Shelby  in  these 
companies  were:  William  Price,  ILlijah  P.iggs, 
John  Cochran,  Jr.  ;/ireen  h'razier,  John  Perdew, 
.Nathan  Ctnry.  .\.  C,.  I'razier,  .Xhner  Poe.  David 
lElIiott,  John  Simpson,  Samuel  Parks,  Samuel 
Rankin.  Devi  Casey,  John  Creen,  Charles 
Welch.  T'homas  Hall,  Jordan  Pall,  T'homas 
Scribner.  Joseph  McCain  John  Hall,  W  illiam 
Creen.  James  Whosong,  William  Templeton, 
W  illiam  Sherrell.  D.  .Mosely.  .Many  of  the  de¬ 
scendants  of  these  men  yet  live  in  the  county. 
Cai)t.  Daniel  Price  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  ,\sh  Crove  townshi]).  while  Ca])t.  Peter  War¬ 
ren — afterwards  a  colonel  and  brigadier-general 
of  militia^ — was  a  resident  of  the  Sand  Creek  set¬ 
tlement.  It  need  not  he  said  that  the  Shelby 
county  contingent  in  these  tw'o  com])anies  did 
good  service  in  the  camitaign  against  and  vic¬ 
tory  over  Plack  Hawk  and  his  warriors.  'The 
success  of  this  campaign  and  the  treaty 
which  followed  brought  peace  to  the  -  settlers, 
which  has  not  since  been  broken. 

Shelby  county  volunteers  also  gave  a  good 
account  of  themselves  in  the  Mexican  war  in 
1846 — 47.  Illinois  contributed  six  regiments  of 
troo])s  for  this  war.  These  were  commanded  re¬ 
spectively  by  Colonels  John  J.  Harden.  Wm.  11. 
Pissell,  Fernis  Forman.  Edward  D.  Paker, 
James  Collins  and  Edward  W.  .Newby.  Colonel 
(afterward  general)  Edward  D.  Paker,  distin¬ 
guished  himself  later  in  the  war  of  the  I'nion. 
losing  his  life  at  the  sanguinary  battle  of  Pall's 
Pluff,  Oct.  20,  1861. 

.\  company  of  Shelby  county  men  was 
raised  for  the  Third  regiment — Col.  Forman.  ( )f 


MK.  AND  MKS.  ELGIN  H.  MARTIN. 


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HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


this  company  Janies  Freeman  became  captain; 
W.  L.  McXeil,  second  lieutenant:  David  Evey. 
third  lieutenant;  John  Casey,  first  serg-eant ;  X. 
Corley,  third  serg-eant ;  Orville  Robertson,  fourth 
sergeant,  and  W’ni.  Price.  Michael  llalbrook 
and  E.  F.  Doyle,  corporals.  The  iirivates  were: 
Aithur  llankson,  Penton  Peck.  James  Chatliam. 
I'ranklin  Chatham,  Jones  Clair,  (■.  \\’.  Delap, 
William  (/rififith,  Abraham  (lordon,  Clayborn 
Hooper,  Joseph  Hoo])er,  H.  Lang,  Samuel  ^^at- 
nev,  Jackson  Massey,  (leo.  W.  McKenzie.  Henry 
Phelps,  John  Row  (wounded  at  Cerro  (lordo). 
losiah  ( f'Riley,  Hardin  Smith,  Penjamin  Wel¬ 
don,  Label!  Warren,  William  Smith.  Lewis 
Scribner,  David  X'anwinkle,  Adol])hus  Panning, 
William  H  Jack.son.  Washington  I'anning, 
David  Truitt.  Xelson  I'arlow.  .Aaron  Parker. 
James  Prannon,  John  Panics,  Jesse  1.  Reed, 
.Able  Jackson.  Stephen  Ring,  P.  T.  Webb,  John 
Corbin.  Howell  Smith.  The  following  members 
of  the  comjiany  died  in  the  service;  Michael 
Halbrook,  John  Cook.  vSolonion  Pierce,  John 
Myers,  Janies  Goodwin,  IClijah  Conner,  Andrew 
Henderson,  William  Killani,  Washington 
Moore.  John  Jayne,  Ale.xander  Di.xon,  Janies 
Curry,  Calvin  Williams.  I'red  Clossen. 

This  company,  (P.  of  the  3d  regiment),  left 
Shelby ville  June  22.  1846.  and  were  mustered 
into  the  Cnited  States  service  at  .Alton  soon 
afterward.  The  regiment  was  a  ])art  of  {>en. 
Shield’s  brigade,  and  jiarticipated  in  the  siege 
and  capture  of  \’era  Cruz,  and  the  memorable 
battle  of  Cerro  (lordo,  where  the  regiment 
greatly  distinguished  itself. 

Company  "0."  of  the  Sixth  regiment  was 
also  partly  made  up  of  Shelby  countv  men.  The 
records  show  the  following  as  residents  of  this 
county ;  First  Lieut.  Rely  Aladison,  Second 
Lieut.  Simon  Lundy.  ().  P.  Helton,  coqioral ; 
Joab  Kelley,  coqioral;  (died  in  the  service): 
Ma.son  P.  Kelley,  corporal:  (died  in  service): 


Michael  T.  Prewster,  corporal;  Privates  W.  A. 
Clements,  Joseiih  Evey.  William  Corbin.  Sam¬ 
uel  Craig.  Thomas  Dobbs.  Janies  Wadkins, 
Elias  Corbin,  James  W  ilson,  Harvey  Tresner. 
(<lied  in  service).  John  Tresner,  John  Davenport. 
■Xoble  J.  Prand,  Dudley  Ho])])er,  Lewis  Clark, 
(died  in  service),  and  Jose])h  Moore.  This 
regiment  served  about  nineteen  months,  most 
of  the  time  on  garrison  duty.  (  )f  those  named 
above  ( )liver  P.  Helton  is  yet  living  and  a  resi¬ 
dent  of  Shelbyville. 

SHELPVS  PART  IX'THE  ('.REAT  WAR 
F(  )R  THE  CXIOX. 

W  bile  the  sons  of  Shelby  were  more  than 
willing  to  shell  their  blood  for  their  countrv  in 
the  war  of  1812  and  the  Mexican  war  it  remained 
for  the  stujiendous  conllict  for  the  iireservation 
'1  the  nation  to  bring  out  their  stalwart  and  in¬ 
vincible  (latriotism.  It  might  well  have  been 
sup])osed  that  the  long  years  of  jieace  and  (piiet 
between  1848  and  1861  would  unfit  the  peojile 
for  martial  pursuits;  but  far  from  it.  When  the 
stars  ami  stripes  were  fired  u])on  by  treasonable 
hosts  at  Fort  Sumter.  Shelby  county's  loyal  sons 
were  not  the  last  to  be  stirred  to  action.  I'ort 
Sumter  fell  .Ajiril  13,  1861.  (  )n  the  15th  (hiv. 

^  ates.  of  Illinois,  received  the  following  dispatch 
from  \\’ashington  : 

"Call  made  on  you  by  to-night’s  mail  for 
six  regiments  of  militia  for  immediate  service. 

"Si.MOX  CAMEROX. 

“Secretary  of  War." 

In  ten  days  over  ten  thousand  men  tendered 
their  services  to  the  Governor,  and  more  than 
the  state’s  full  quota  was  in  canqi  at  .Springfield. 
( )f  this  tender,  one  full  comjianv  was  made  u]) 
of  the  flower  of  Shelby’s  young  jiatriots.  This 
conqianv  ( P.  of  the  14th),  however,  was  not  ac¬ 
cepted  under  the  first  call. 


I 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


SEX  EXTH  IXEAXTRV. 

'I'lie  adjutant-fjcncrars  rc])()rts  show  hut  one 
vSliclhv  county  man  as  a  nieiul)er  of  the  Seventh. 

EKEEril  IXE.AXTRV. 

Tliis  regiment  liad  for  its  Colonel,  Richard 
J.  ( Igleshy,  a  man  well  and  favorably  known  by 
the  older  Shelby  county  peoi)le.  He  became  a 
.Major-('.eneral  of  \h)hmteers  ;  was  among  the 
most  efficient  of  the  many  volunteer  officers  con¬ 
tributed  by  the  state,  and  suhseciuently  served 
his  countrv  in  a  civil  capacity  as  Congressman, 
Covernor,  and  C.  S.  Senator,  d'he  regiment 
was  organized  for  the  three  months'  service, 
.\])ril  25,  1S61,  and  July  25,  1861,  was  re-organ¬ 
ized  for  three  vears.  It  took  part  in  some  of 
the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war,  among  them 
h'orts  Henrv  and  Donelson,  the  seige  of  Corinth,  _ 
and  was  especially  distinguished  in  the  battles 
of  Raymond  and  Champion  Hill.  The  regiment 
"veteranized” — re-enlisted  for  another  three 
year  term- -March  24,  1864,  and  partici])ated  m 
the  camj)aign  against  MoTile  and  Fort  lllakely 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Raton  Rouge,  Ea.,  INIay 
4,  1866.  Shelby  county  contributed  five  recruits 
to  this  gallant  regiment. 

XIXTH  IXEAXTRV. 

This  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  three 
months’  service  .Ajmil  28,  1861,  and  for  three 
vears,  Julv  26,  1861.  It  was  a  fighting  regiment, 
having  ])articipated  in  no  less  than  one  hundred 
and  ten  battles  and  skirmishes.  Col.  Jesse  J. 
l’hillii)s  (recently  deceased)  was  for  a  time  in 
command  of  the  "old  ninth,"  which  for  a  short 
term  served  as  mounted  infantry.  Among  its 
most  important  battles  were  :  Fort  Henry,  Fort 
Donelson,  Shiloh,  seige  and  battle  of  Corinth, 
Sherman's  campaign  to  Atlanta,  and  his  memor¬ 


able  march  to  the  sea.  The  regiment  was  mus¬ 
tered  out  at  Eouisville,  Ky..  July  9,  1865. 

'1  he  muster  roll  of  Com])any  "H"  shows  the 
names  of  five  vShelby  county  men. 

THE  h:i.E\  l-:XTH  IXEAXTRV 

W  as  organized  and  mustered  into  service  at 
.S])ringfield,  .\i)ril  30,  1861.  and  re-enlisted  for 
three  years'  in  the  following  July.  'I'liis  regi¬ 
ment  is  notable  for  the  nund)er  of  its  command¬ 
ing  officers  and  their  distinguished  service.  The 
ICleventh  had  four  Colonels.  'I'he  first  two  were 
W.  11.  E.  W  allace  and  'I'hos.  E.  C.  Ransom,  both 
of  whom  were  afterward  given  the  star  of  a  brig¬ 
adier-general.  'I'he  third.  Col.  Canet  Xevins, 
was  killed  in  action  during  the  seige  of  X’icks- 
burg;  the  fcjurth  and  last  was  Col  Jas.  H. 
Coates,  who  was  breveted  brigadier-general  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  'I'he  regiment  particii)ated  in 
the  battles  of  horts  Henry  and  Donelson. 
Corinth,  seige  of  X'icksburg;  was  also  engaged  in 
the  cam])aign  against  Mobile,  Spanish  Fort,  and 
I'ort  Rlakely.  'I'he  regiment  was  mustered  out 
at  Raton  Rouge,  Ea.,  July  14.  1865.  Four  men 
from  Shelby  were  members  of  Com])any  0,  of 
the  IMeventh. 

COMl’AXV  "R"()E  THE  EOl'RTEEXTH 
IXEAXTRV. 

'riiis  has  always  been  known  as  '■Ca])t. 
Hall's  company,"  for  the  reason  that  he  was  in 
the  lead  in  its  enlistment,  and  went  out  as  its 
commanding  officer.  D.  C.  Smith,  Hon.  S.  W'. 
Moulton,  Leander  W  ebster.  Geo.  D.  Chafee  and 
others  were  also  active  in  its  organization.  Co. 
R’s  first  officers  were:  Cyrus  Hall,  captain; 
Dudley  C.  Smith,  first  lieutenant:  Milton  Lean¬ 
der  Webster,  second  lieutenant.  Sergeants  Geo. 

Poteet,  Fred  P.  Harding,  Jas.  J.  Durkee, 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Jerome  J.  Hines.  Corporals  Malcolm  Copeland. 
Eli  F.  Chittenden,  Eleazer  Slocum  and  James 
I  )no-an. 

The  company  left  Shelhyville  lOO  stron"  to 
<^o  into  cam])  at  Jacksonville.  May  8.  1861. 
'I'hey  were  mustered  into  the  state  service  on  the 
iith  and  into  the  I’nited  States  service  on  the 
25th  of  the  same  month.  Ilefore  leavinj^  Shell)y- 
ville  a  beautifnl  silken  was  i)resented  to  the 
com])any  by  Samuel  \\’.  Moulton  in  behalf  of  the 
ladies.  This  Hat?  was  carried  through  the  war 
and  is  now  in  the  ])ossession  of  Geo.  \\  rit^ht.  of 
1  )ecatur.  who  was  cai)tain  of  the  company  the 
last  year  of  the  war.  In  Sei)teml)er.  1861.  Cai)t. 
Hall  was  i)romoted  to  he  major  and  Eient.  \\  eh- 
ster  captain  in  the  newly  orj^anized  7th  cavalry, 
when  D.  C.  Smith  became  captain.  Geo.  .\. 
I’oteet  1st  lieutenant,  and  Geo.  M’right  2d  lieu¬ 
tenant  of  the  comi)any.  (  )ther  members  of  this 
company  who  received  ])romotion  were :  Cyrus 
Hall  became  a  brig’adier-oeneral ;  1).  C.  Smith 
raised  and  commanded  the  143rd  infantry:  (leo. 
.\.  Poteet  became  lieutenant-colonel,  and  E. 
Slocum  ca])tain  in  the  115th  infantry:  M.  H. 
Copeland  became  cai)tain  of  com])any  .A.  of  the 
14th:  H.  M.  Peden  became  cai)tain  of  company 
E:  Henry  Harbous^h,  a  ])rivate.  was  promoted 
to  be  second  lieutenant  of  the  com])any,  while 
Parkhurst  T.  Martin,  another  private,  of  Co.  11. 
raised  and  commanded  Co.  K.  of  the  re-orti^an- 
ized  14th. 

In  addition  to  more  than  100  men  in  Co.  11. 
Shelby  was  represented  in  several  other  com- 
])anies  of  the  14th. 

-After  the  consolidation  of  the  14th  and  15th 
reg'iments.  in  the  fall  of  1864,  two  com])anies  of 
one  year  men  (1  and  I\).  were  ortjanized  and 
joined  the  14th.  The  officers  of  these  were: 
Company  I — Captain,  P.  J.  Taylor:  1st  lieut., 
Jacob  F)rown  ;  2nd  lieut..  llenj.  J.  Puckett.  Com- 


])any  K — Cajitain,  Park.  T.  Martin:  1st  lieut.. 
h'lam  H.  Robinson:  2nd  lieut..  Alarshall  11. 
Martin. 

-After  a  campaign  in  Missouri  the  Four¬ 
teenth  was  ordered  to  Tennessee  and  distin- 
s^uished  itself  at  Shiloh,  where  the  i^allant  res^i- 
ment  with  Col.  Hall  leadin';-,  made  the  final 
charge  in  the  san_<;uinary  strn}4,c:le.  losing^ 
half  its  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  14th 
particijiated  in  the  seij^e  and  battle  of  Corinth, 
was  with  (irant  at  N’icksbur}.;.  with  Sherman  in 
the  .Altanta  cainjiaii;!!,  and  with  that  intrepid 
leader  in  his  memorable  march  to  the  sea.  The 
rei;iment  was  mustered  out  at  I't.  Leavenworth. 
Kansas.  Sejit.  1865. 

Shelby  county  was  also  represented  in  the 
h'ifteenth.  Twenty-first.  (Gen.  ('irant's  res^imentl. 
'rwenty-second.  Twenty-third.  Twenty-sixth  and 
Thirty-first  infantry.  Twenty-two  Shelby  comi¬ 
ty  men  served  in  those  organizations. 

THIKTV-SEC(  )XI)  IXE.A.XTRV. 

Company  IT  of  this  }.;allant  organization  was 
largely  made  uj)  of  Shelby  county  men — 57  men 
rank  and  file — Cajitains  .\.  C.  Camjibell  and  \\’. 
H.  -Middlefon  and  Lientenants  Jeremiah  and 
John  P.  Cam])bell  claiming-  residence  here.  'I'lie 
reg-iment  was  orj^anized  at  S])rins;field.  and  mus¬ 
tered  into  the  L’nited  States  service  Dec.  31. 
1861.  Col.  John  Lof^an  was  its  first  command- 
int;-  officer.  'Phc  ret^iment  bore  an  honorable 
])art  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  less  than  four  months 
after  ori^anization.  losini;  forty  in  killed  and 
two  hundred  in  wounded.  .After  the  sie.s^e  and 
ca])ture  of  X’icksburi;  and  the  events  followin'.;, 
the  res-iment  with  the  army  of  the  Tennessee 
reinforced  the  army  of  the  Cumberland:  fou_<;ht 
with  Sherman  thronj;h  the  .Atlanta  cam])ais;n  : 
accom|)anied  him  to  Savanah,  and  took\part  in 


159 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


tlie  strand  review  at  W  ashinj^ton,  May  24,  1865; 
thence  moved  to  Ft.  Feavenwortli,  Kan.,  where 
nni.'^ter  out  took  place  in  Sept.  i8t)5. 

Till-:  TMlRTV-1-ll'Tll  IXhWXTRV 

wa.s  orjyanized  in  Decatnr,  jnl\  3rd,  1861.  Coni- 
])anv  C  was  wliolly  composed  of  Shelby  count}’ 
hoys — some  of  the  best  of  whom  the  county 
coidd  boast.  .\t  the  battles  of  Rea  Ridj^e,  Stone 
River,  Chickamauf^a,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and 
a  half  score  of  other  en^-aj^ements,  the  35th  was 
in  the  forefront  of  battle.  In  the  one  bloody  en¬ 
counter  at  Chickamau^ta  the  rej^iment,  with  a 
total  of  eij>ht  officers  and  281  men  fit  f(jr  duty, 
tost  in  killed  and  wounded  ei.i>ht  commissioned 
officers  and  150  men.  The  regiment  was  espee- 
ially  distinguished  in  the  storming  and  cai)ture 
of  Mission  Ridge.  'I'he  officers  of  compaii}  C 
were:  Captains — James  1'.  Williams,  Lewis  II. 
Williams.  First  Lieutenants — Truman  C.  La])- 
ham,  Otto  Fisher.  Second  Lieutenant — Jesse 
Xigh. 

I’enj.  h'.  Smith,  of  ( fconee,  was  a  lieutenant 
in  com])any  Ik  while  the  same  com])any  con¬ 
tained  twenty-two  ])rivates  from  Shelby  county, 
Co.  I),  6;  Co.  F,  3;  and  Co.  K,  8.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  Se])t.  27,  1864,  at 
Spring-field. 

IX  ) RT I  RST  R K( ; I M  F XT.  ' 

Com])any  H,  of  the  41st,  was  a  Shelby  coun¬ 
ty  com])any,  raised  largely  through  the  instru¬ 
mentality  of  Hiram  Llackstone,  who  was  its  first 
ca]:)tain.  John  Huffer,  who  succeeded  to  the 
command  after  Capt.  lUackstone's  resignation, 
Jan.  14,  1862,  was  killed  at  Shiloh.  He  was  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  Luther  H.  W  ilber,  who  died  in  less 
than  a  month  after  receiving  his  commission. 
William  F.  Turney  succeeding  him  as  cai)tain. 
Ca])t.  Turney  lost  his  good  right  arni  in  the  bat¬ 


tle  of  1  Slack  River.  Lieut.  Christo])her  Comely 
was  killed  in  battle — a  remarkable  series  of  cas¬ 
ualties  in  company  officers.  'I'lie  other  officers 
of  the  comi)any  were  hfirst  Lieutenants  James  S. 
Steen  and  Daniel  M.  Turney,  Second  Lieutenant 
llenry  11.  Hardy.  Shelby  county  furnished  three 
men  for  Co.  IS,  one  for  Co.  1),  15  to  Co.  It,  and 
one  to  Co.  (k 

'I'he  regiment  was  organized  at  Decatur, 
August,  1861,  by  Col.  Isaac  C.  Rugh.  'Rook  part 
in  the  battles  of  Forts  llenry  and  Donelson, 
siege  of  Corinth,  siege  and  capture  of  X'icksburg, 
and  battle  of  Jackson.  In  the  latter  engagement 
the  regiment  loss  was  40  killed  and  122  wounded. 
'I'he  regiment  was  with  Sherman  through  the 
,\tlanta  campaign,  and  with  him  on  his 
march  to  the  sea.  In  January,  1865, 
the  41st  was  consolidated  with  the 
53rd,  forming  companies  (.  and  11.  Was  in  the 
grand  review  at  Washington,  .May  24,  1865,  and 
was  mustered  out  at  Louisville,  l\y.,  on  the  22nd 
of  July  of  the  same  year. 

Shelby  was  also  represented  in  the  h'orty- 
eighth.  Forty-ninth  and  Fifty-third  regiments. 

FIFTV-F(  )L'RTH  IXFAXTRY. 

'I'his  regiment  was  largely  comprised  of 
Shelby  county  men.  Co.  H  was  a  Shelby  county 
comi)anv,  while  parts  of  com])anies  A,  G,  I,  and 
K,  are  credited  to  the  county.  Shelby  furnished 
the  following  commissioned  officers  to  the  Fifty- 
fourth  ;  Col.  Thomas  W.  Harris,  Lt.-Col.  H.  M. 
Scarborough,  Captain  S.  L.  Harkey,  Lt.  Jas. 
Chapman,  Co.  F.  Also  the  following  officers  of 
Co.  H  :  Captains — Edward  Roessler,  John  R. 
Fleming,  Henry  Hart.  Lieutenants — John  W. 
Johnson,  Andrew  J.  Ticknor,  John  M.  Hart,  J. 
F.  Mautz.  The  latter  was  appointed  but  not 
mustered.  Ren  E.  Lower,  sergeant-major ;  and 
Robt.  C.  Allen,  ciuartermaster  seargeant,  were 
also  from  Shelby. 


160 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


The  regiment  was  organized  and  musterevl 
into  service  in  Feljrn^ry.  1862.  at  Anna,  Ill.,  and 
a  few  days  later  was  ordered  to  Cairo.  Thence 
the  command  went  to  Columbus,  Ky.,  and  in  the 
following  December  was  ordered  to  Jackson, 
Tenn.  The  regiment  took  part  in  the  campaign 
against  Maine's  llluflf,  and  formed  a  ])art  of  (len. 
Steel’s  e.\j)edition  against  Little  Rock,  .\rk.  In 
January,  1864,  a  large  ])art  of  the  regiment  re- 
enlisted  and  at  Charleston,  111.,  a  ])ortion  of  the 
men  wl#ile  on  veteran  furlough,  were  attacked  by 
armed  co])perheads,  led  by  Sheriff  ()’Hair,  and 
Surgeon  York  and  four  privates  were  killed  and 
Col.  ^litchell  and  a  number  of  men  were 
wounded.  In  the  summer  of  1864  si.K  com])anies 
of  the  regiment  were  captured  by  the  rebels  after 
a  brave  resistance  against  an  overwhelming  force. 
The  four  other  companies,  Co.  H,  among 
them,  escaped  ca])ture.  In  the  fight  Lieut.  James 
and  thirteen  men  were  killed  and  thirty-four  were 
wounded.  The  men  thus  taken  ])risoners  were 
l)aroled  at  Jacksonport.  .\rk.,  and  arrived  at  St. 
Louis  in  Sc])t.,  1864.  The  regiment  was  mus¬ 
tered  out  and  discharged  at  Si)ringficld,  Ill.,  ( )ct. 
26,  1865.  after  nearly  four  years'  service. 

Shelby  also  had  brave  rei)resentatives  in  the 
Fifty-ninth,  Si.xty-first,  Si.xty-fourth,  Seventy- 
third.  Two  com])Enies  ( !>  and  (>),  which  after¬ 
ward  by  a  trade  among  the  officers  became  a 
part  of  the  ( )ne  Hundred  and  Fiftieth,  were  re¬ 
cruited  for  the  Seventy-third.  "The  Preacher 
Regiment."  Chas.  K.  Woodward,  a  Shelbyvillc 
man,  then  as  now.  served  as  cjuartermaster  of  the 
.Seventy-ninth.  number  of  Shelby  county 
men  also  served  in  the  Eightieth.  Ivightv- 
hrst.  and  Eighty-third.  Lewis  I).  Martin  of 
Shelby ville  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Xinety- 
seventh  regiment,  and  was  promoted  later  to  the 
colonelcy,  but  not  mustered,  .\mong  the  sol¬ 
diers  were  twelve  Shelby  county  men,  mostlv  in 
Co.  B. 


()XE  HLXDREl)  A XI)  ElETEEXTll  IX- 
E.XXTRV. 

Tw(j  full  companies  and  more  than  half  of 
another  of  this  regiment  were  from  Shelby. 

REf'.LMEXTAL  ( )EEICERS. 

‘  Ceo.  .A.  Poteet.  lieut. -colonel ;  Richard 
Holding,  api)ointed  cha])lain.  but  because  of  ill 
health  declined  to  be  mustered :  Chas.  W. 
Jerome.  (|uartermaster. 

CO.MPAXY  OFFICERS. 

Co.  P> — Ca])t.  IL  Slocum  :  Lieuts.  Erasmus 
1).  Steen,  John  Beauchamp,  Ezekiel  K. Schwartz. 

Co.  E — Capt.  John  M.  Lane. 

Co.  1' — Capt.  Chas.  H.  (irififith  ;  Lieuts. 
Matthew  h'reeman,  Jacob  Porter.  David  Reed, 
and  53  men. 

Co.  ('i — Capts.  S.  Barlow  Ivsjjv  and  John  W  . 
Dove;  Lieut.  John  M.  Baker.  ( )f  these  Capt. 
Es])y  and  Lieut.  Porter  were  killed  in  battle — the 
former  at  Chickamauga  while  acting  as  volun¬ 
teer  aid  for  Cen.  W.  C.  Whittaker;  the  latter  at 
Resaca,  C.eorgia.  Lieutenants  Beauchani])  and 
Freeman  died  of  disease  in  the  service. 

In  the  summer  of  1862  President  Lincoln 
made  a  call  for  300.000  men.  followed  a  few 
weeks  later  by  a  second  for  a  similar  number, 
d  he  cause  of  the  Lnion  never  looked  darker; 
the  enemies  of  the  Lnion  were  never  more  ar¬ 
rogant  and  aggressive.  It  was  clear  that  the 
full  strength  of  the  nation  must  be  ])ut  forth  to 
]nit  down  the  slave-holders’  rebellion.  The  call 
of  the  President  electrified  the  nation  from  Maine 
to  California,  and  the  response  was  heartv  and 
strong  and  from  every  (juarter  was  heard  the  bat¬ 
tle  cry;  "We  are  coming.  Father  Abraham, 
fioo.ooo  strong.” 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  regiment 
formed  a  small  jrart  of  the  answer  to  this  call. 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


(  )rj^anizati()n  took  place  at  Cant])  llutler,  near 
Spring-field  in  Se])t..  1862,  and  the  ref^iinent  was 
ordered  to  the  field  a  month  later.  The  com¬ 
mand  was  assij>-ned  to  the  Second- llri^-ade,  Sec¬ 
ond  Division,  Army  of  Kentucky,  reportinj^  to 
(len.  .X.  j.  Smith  at  Coviiif^ton,  l\y.,  ( )ct.  6, 
After  two  or  three  months’  cam])ai^ninj^  in  Ken- 
tuckv  the  rej^iment  found  itself  en  route  by 
steamer  from  Louisville  to  Xashville  to  rein¬ 
force  ('len.  Rosecrans,  and  was  with  that  }»-eneral 
on  the  Tullahoma  and  Chattanoojja  cam])ai^ns, 
takiipy^  a  cons])icuous  ])art  and  distin^^uishinj^  it¬ 
self  at  Chickamaut^a.  The  second  brigade  was 
with  ('icn.  Hooker  in  his  "Hattie  above  the 
clouds,"  at  Lookout  Mountain  ;  was  with  ( icn. 
Sherman  in  his  .Atlanta  campaij;n,  and  took  part 
in  some  of  the  bloody  battles  which  characterized 
that  momentous  movement.  When  Sherman 
started  on  his  memorable  march  to  the  sea,  as 
a  part  of  the  Fourth  corps,  the  1  15th  retraced  its 
steps  to  Xashville  and  took  no  inconspicuous jrart 
in  the  severe  fit>htin^  at  F'ranklin,  and  in  j:;-ivin,!^ 
Rebel  (leii.  Hood's  army  its  final  cou])  de  "race 
at  and  near  Xashville.  Inscribed  by  orders  upon 
the  retjimental  banner  were  all  the  jrrincipal  bat¬ 
tles  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  from  Stone 
River  to  .\tlanta,  and  from  .Atlanta  to  Xashville. 

.An  incident  in  the  -Xashville  campait^n  de¬ 
serves  more  than  a  passiii"  notice.  When  Hood's 
legions  turned  their  faces  northward  after  the 
fall  of  .\tlanta  in  a  des])erate  endeavor  to  retrieve 
their  waning  fortunes,  it  was  to  find  Ca])t.  Hy- 
mer  and  45  brave  men  of  Co.  D,  of  the  1  1 
guarding  lluzzard  Roost  Ciap.  This  ga])  in  the 
mountains  afforded  Hood  his  only  chance  of  a 
northe’^n  exit.  This  ga])  was  so  narrow  and  the 
sides  of  the  mountain  so  abrupt  it  was  im¬ 
possible  for  his  army  to  pass  without  taking  the 
blockhouse  which  was  being  held  by  Cai)t.  Hy- 
mer  and  his  men.  With  his  small  force,  though 
his  instant  surrender  was  demanded,  the  brave 


cajitain  held  his  ])ost  for  twelve  hours  against  an 
army  of  6,000  men  and  6  pieces  of  artillery  ;  nor 
did  he  .give  uj)  until  half  his  brave  boys  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  the  block  house  was 
<lemolished  by  the  furious  infantry  and  artillery 
file.  ( )n  his  return  from  a  rebel  ])rison  Ca])!. 
1  lymer  was  given  brevet  rank  of  major  by  1 ’resi¬ 
dent  Lincoln,  was  voted  a  medal  of  honor  by 
Congress  and  given  a  commission  in  the  regular 
army  for  his  heroic  defense. 

W  hen  the  war  closed  the  1  15th  was  in  east 
Tennessee  en  route  to  Lynchburg.  \’a..  to  assist 
Cen.  Crant  iii  winding  u])  the  war;  was  ordered 
back  to  Xashville.  where,  on  the  nth  of  June, 
1865,  muster  out  took  place. 

OXiv  IH'XDRKl)  AXI)  SIXTFKXTH. 

Shelby’s  contribution  to  this  regiment  was: 
Capt.  Jas.  I.  Dobson  and  Lieuts.  Isom  vSimmons, 
Chas.  I’.  ICssick,  and  Jose])!)  (.oodwin,  with  44 
enlisted  men.  all  in  Co.  H. 

OXK  lirXDRLD  AXI)  SFN'EXTFLXTl  1. 

Three  enlisted  men  in  Co.  1’. 

OXE  HCXDRED  AXI)  TWEXTV-TH I  RD. 

Lieut.  Miles  W.  Hart  and  twenty  enlisted 
men  in  Co.  D,  and  two  men  in  Co.  H. 

OXE  HCXDRED  AXI)  TWEXTV-SIXTH. 

Co.  K,  of  the  ( )ne  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
Sixth  was  almost  wholly  recruited  in  this  coun¬ 
ty.  The  officers  were:  Caj)t.  Alfred  .A.  Eran- 
cisco.  Lieuts.  Samuel  AL  Ewing,  .Allen  Fran¬ 
cisco  and  Wm.  K.  F'erguson.  Seventy-five  en¬ 
listed  men  were  from  Shelby,  mostly  from  the 
north  part  of  the  county.  David  James,  for 
whom  the  Findlay  I’ost  is  named,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  126th. 


162 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixtli  regi¬ 
ment  was  organized  at  Alton  l^y  Col.  Jonathan 
Richmond  and  mustered  into  service  September 
4.  1862. 

November  29th  the  command  was  ordered 
to  Columbus,  Ky..  thence  to  llolivar,  Tenn.  ( )n 
the  25th  of  March,  1863,  they  moved  to  Jackson, 
Tenn.,  where  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
Second  I’.rigade,  Second  Division,  Si.xteenth 
.\rmy  Corps,  Major-General  Hurlbut  command¬ 
ing.  From  Jackson  the  regiment  moved  to 
Memphis;  thence  by  river  to  Haines’s  I’luff,  near 
\’icksburg.  The  regiment  ])articipated  in  the  ’ 
siege  and  victory  at  \’icksburg,  in  the  capture  of 
Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  the  fight  at  Clarendon, 
Ark.,  June  26,  1864.  Muster  out  took  place  at 
Fine  Illuff,  Ark.,  June  4th,  and  July  12th  the 
regiment  received  pay  and  were  discharged. 

MOL'NTEl)  TROOPS. 

In  a  county  such  as  this  where  good  horses 
are  the  rule  rather  than  the  exce])tion.  it  is  not 
for  a  moment  to  be  supposed  that  Shelby  would 
not  be  well  represented  in  the  cavalry  arm  of  the 
service.  Nearly  half  of  company  M,  of  the  Third 
cavalry,  were  from  this  county,  but  the  company 
had  for  officers  men  fnnii  another  ])art  of  the 
state.  Put  wherever  they  served  or  under  what 
officers  the  men  from  Shelby  never  turned  their 
backs  on  duty  ;  no  matter  how  difficult,  irksome 
or  dangerous  it  might  be.  'Phey  always  gave  a 
good  account  of  themselves,  and  those  of  the 
Third  regiment  were  no  e.xceptions. 

In  the  Fifth  cavalry,  one  of  the  best  of  the 
army,  there  were  32  Shelby  county  men,  scat¬ 
tered  through  two  or  three  companies ;  the  most 
of  them,  however,  being  members  of  Co.  ('.,  and 
in  most  cases  from  the  vicinity  of  ( )conee. 

Daniel  D.  \'antis  had  the  honor  of  being 
Shelby’s  sole  representative  in  the  Sixth  cavalrv, 
and  he  served  onlv  three  months. 


THE  SEN  ENTH  CAX’ALRV. 

Put  Shelby  did  have  one  full  comi)any.  of¬ 
ficers  and  men,  in  the  mounted  service,  and 
every  loyal  man  is  ])roud  of  Co.  11.  and  its  bril¬ 
liant  service.  In  the  fall  of  1861  this  regiment 
was  organized  and  mustered  into  the  I'.  S.  ser¬ 
vice  at  Si)ringfield.  This  w?s  W’m.  Pitt  Kel¬ 
logg’s  regiment,  and  no  command  did  better  ser¬ 
vice  or  suffered  severer  hardshi]).s  than  did  this. 
Col.  Cyrus  Hall  was  for  a  time  major  of  the 
Seventh  and  resigned  to  receive  the  colonelcy  of 
the  Fourteenth  infantry.  The  regiment  com¬ 
menced  its  cam])aign  at  Pird’s  Point.  Mo.,  in 
Dec.  1861 .  where  its  duty  was  to  ])r()tect  the 
loyal  inhabitants  from  the  rebel  armies  and  gue¬ 
rillas  that  infested  that  countr\ .  'J'he  regi¬ 
ment  accompanied  the  army  guarding  its  Hanks 
in  the  C3mi)aigns  against  New  Madrid  and 
Islatid  No.  10.  after  which  it  moved  u])  the  Ten¬ 
nessee  with  the  forces  undei^  (k-n.  Pope  to  Ham¬ 
burg  Landing  and  in  the  direction  of  Corinth. 
'Phe  regiment  formed  a  ])art  of  Col.  P.  H.  (kier- 
son  s  brigade  and  took  a  consjjicuous  and  hon¬ 
orable  part  in  the  famous  "Grierson’s  raid."  .\t 
I'hanklin  the  regiment  was  in  the  forefront  of 
battle,  clrrging  an  infantrx  brigade  and  driving 
it  across  the  Har|)eth  river  on  the  13th  of  De¬ 
cember.  i8t)4.  At  Nashville  as  a  ])art  of  Gen. 
Hatch’s  division,  it  charged  and  carried  three 
lines  of  works  and  ca])tured  thirteen  ])ieces  of 
artillery  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  ( )n 
the  14th.  another  charge  was  made  on  the 
enemy’s  intrenchments.  drove  out  the  rebels  and 
captured  many  pri.soners.  During  this  battle  the 
Seventh  lost  four  commissioned  officers  seriouslv 
wounded — one  (Capt.  McCausland)  mortallv, 
and  thirty-six  men  killed  and  wounded.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Cami)  Putler,  Nov. 
17.  1865.  having  served  four  years  and  three 
months. 


16' 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Co.  1 1,  of  tile  Seventh,  was  reeruited  in  Shel¬ 
by  eonnty  by  Milton  L.  Webster,  Isaac  \'.  1). 
Aloore,  I’riah  llrant  and  others.  'I'he  officers 
were:  Cajjtain.s — Milton  L.  Webster  and  Criah 
llrant.  Lientenants — Isaac  \  .  1).  Moore,  Jacob 
C.  Miller,  Henry  \  oris,  Samuel  K.  Gannnill, 
Samuel  -\.  Kitch  and  Michael  Freybarf^er, 

In  addition  to  Co.  11,  Shelby  contributed 
one  man  to  Co.  1,  and  three  inen  to  Co.  M,  of 
the  /th  reyi^iment. 

TICXTJl  CA\  AFRY. 

h'ifteen  men  from  Shelby  marched  and 
fought  in  the  ranks  (.)f  the  d'enth  cavalr\'  ;  Shell))’ 
contributed  one  man  (Jacob  Wetzel)  to  the 
'I'welfth  cavalry:  Lieut.  James  S.  Steen  and  nine 
men  to  the  h'ourteenth  regiment,  and  two  men 
to  the  Sixteenth  cavalry. 

OXL  liCXDRKI)  DAA'  MKX. 

In  the  si)rinj^  of  1864  the  government  of 
Illinois,  with  other  states  of  the  northwest  be¬ 
lieving;’  the  rebellion  nearing  its  close,  and  desir¬ 
ing  to  aid  the  general  government  in  every  possi¬ 
ble  wav,  tendered  the  President  a  volunteer  forcr 
of  several  thousand  one  hundred-day  men,  to  re¬ 
lieve  the  volunteers  from  garrison  duty.  It  is 
common  for  some  to  speak  in  slighting  terms  of 
these  troops,  but  Cov.  Yates  gave  them  their  due 
meed  of  ])riase  in  these  words  : 

■■(  )nr  regiments  under  this  call  performed 
invaluable  services,  relieving  garrisons  of  vet¬ 
eran  troops  who  were  sent  to  the  front,  took 
part  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  several  of  them 
also  composing  a  ])art  of  that  glorious  army  that 
penetrated  the  very  vitals  of  the  rebellion  and 
plucked  some  of  the  brightest  laurels  that  this 
heroic  age  has  woven  for  a  patriotic  soldier.  * 

*  *  The  President  has,  by  order,  re¬ 

turned  them  the  thanks  of  the  government  and 


the  nation  for  the  services  they  rendered,  and 
accords  the  full  measure  of  praise  to  them  as 
our  sup])orters  and  defenders  in  the  rear,  to 
which  the  regular  reserve  force  of  large  armies 
is  always  entitled." 

TIIK  OXK  HCX  DR  HI)  AXl)  FORTY- 
THIRD  IXFAXTRY 

was  one  of  these  regiments,  and  Shelby  furnished 
the  colonel,  the  whole  of  C'o.  C,  and  a  ])art  of 
Co.  C.  Dudlev  C.  Smith,  formerly  ca])tain  of 
Co.  P>,  of  the  I'ourteenth  regiment,  organized 
the  command  which  was  mustered  into  service 
at  Mattoon,  June  11,  1864,  and  was  mustered 
out  Se])t.  26,  1864.  'I'he  following  were  from 
vShelby  :  Co.  C — Lieutenant  W  illiam  hh  Miller 
and  fifteen  enlistc'd  men.  Co.  C — Ca])tain  Phil¬ 
ander  R.  Webster,  ist  Lieut.  Richard  Couch, 
2(1  Lieut.  Edward  Dunaway,  and  eighty-five  en¬ 
listed  men. 

Most  of  the  regijuent's  duty  was  i)erfornied 
in  and  near  Helena,  Ark.,  and  the  camp  and 
guard  duty  among  the  swamps  and  bayous  the 
men  were  called  to  do  soon  decimated  the 
ranks,  and  w  hen  sent  north  for  muster  out  nearly 
half  the  regiment  was  unfit  for  duty. 

THF,  SPAXISH  AMERICAX  WAR. 

If  the  sons  of  Shelby  w’ere  loyal  to  the  flag 
in  1861 — 5,  they  were  none  the  less  willing  to 
])Our  out  their  life's  blood  wdien  the  clash  came 
between  the  L’nited  States  and  the  Kingdom  of 
vSijain.  The  fact  that  a  large  ])roportion  of  the 
volunteers  in  both  the  army  and  navy  in  the 
Spanish-American  war  were  the  sons  of  the  vet¬ 
erans  of  the  great  war  for  the  L’nion,  goes  to 
prove  that  the  sons  of  the  ])resent  generation 
are  worthy  of  their  sires. 

Eor  the  Spanish  war.  Captain  W'.  F.  'rurney, 
himself  .a  captain  in  the  Civil  w’ar,  and  w’ho  since 


164 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


tlie  battle  of  lUack  River,  in  1863.  has  carried 
an  eniptv  sleeve,  was  one  of  the  first  in  Central 
Illinois  to  raise  a  company  and  offer  its  services 
to  the  government.  It  was  no  fault  of  the  gal¬ 
lant  Captain,  nor  yet  of  his  valorous  boys,  that 
their  services  were  not  acce])ted.  The  company 
100  strong,  was  fully  organized,  officered  and 
drilled,  but  though  repeatedly  and  urgently  of¬ 
fered,  was  not  accepted. 

This  was  most  unfortunate  for  all  concerned, 
for  many  of  the  boys  were  fully  determined  to 
"go  to  war,"  and  when  their  company  was  finally 
refused  a  place  the  indiviilual  mend)er.s  scattered. 
Some  found  i)Iace  to  serve  their  country  in  the 
regular  service,  some  enlisted  in  volunteer  regi¬ 
ments,  some  in  one  place  and  some  in  another. 
This  has  made  it  not  only  difficult  but  impossi¬ 
ble  to  give  an  intelligent  account  of  their  goings 
and  doings,  lint  more  than  half  of  "Turney's 
Tigers,"  as  the  company  was  jcjcosely  called, 
found  active  service.  Some  went  to  the  h'ourth 
infantry  at  Mattoon  (Co.  H  ),  and  saw  service  in 
Cuba:  some  went  to  Porto  Rico  with  Pattery  A. 
First  Illinois  Artillery;  others  went  with  regu¬ 
lars  or  volunteers  to  the  Philippines,  and  assisted 
in  compelling  the  Tagals  to  acknowledge  .Amer¬ 
ican  sovereignty,  while  other.s — at  least  one  or 
two — formed  a  i)art  of  the  gallant  .Americ  11  con¬ 
tingent  with  Gen.  Chafee  in  its  heroic  work  of 
relieving  the  beleaguered  legationers  in  the 
Chinese  capital. 

There  were  enlistments  in  other  parts  of  the 
county — a  company  in  Sigel,  another  in  Cowden, 
with  Capt.  L.  II.  Williams  at  the  head,  and  per¬ 
haps  elsewhere,  but  as  organizations  none  of 
these  saw  service. 

THE  GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPL'PLIC. 

■Among  the  orders  whose  pur|)Ose  it  is  to 
keep  alive  the  lessons  of  the  war  for  the  L’nion 


and  care  for  survivors,  their  widows  and  orjjhans, 
none  takes  precedence  of  the  Grand  .\rmy  of 
the  Rei)ublic.  This  is  a  semi-secret,  non-j)oliti- 
cal  order  and  was  organized  by  Dr.  Ilenj.  I". 
Stephenson,  snrgecm  of  the  14th  Illinois  infantry. 
.Any  man  who  "wore  the  blue."  no  matter  for 
how  brief  a  term,  and  can  show  an  honorable 
discharge,  can  become  a  member  and  share  in 
all  the  benefits  thereunto  i)ertaining.  The  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  order  are  under  obligations  to  help 
a  comrade  in  a  ]iecuniary  way  and  to  care  for 
him  and  his  in  sickness  and  distress,  and  a  large 
part  of  the  funds  contributed  by  members  are 
paid  out  in  charity  :  this  in  addition  to  what  the 
■government  is  so  generous  in  doing  in  Homes 
for  disabled  veterans,  their  widows  and  orphans. 

.A  Post  of  the  Grand  .\rmy  was  organized 
in  Shelby ville.  June  12.  1882.  In  honor  of  their 
distinguished  comrade  the  Post  was  named 
Cyrus  Hall  Post.  Xo.  138.  Department  of  Illi¬ 
nois.  I'orty-two  charter  mend)ers  apjjended  their 
n:.mes  to  the  roll,  as  follows: 

Wesley  .Allen,  143rd  Ill.  Inf. 

I'indley  Pehymer,  1  15th.  111.  Inf  .  ‘ 

Thos.  Peggs,  5th  Ill.  Cav. 

M.  (j.  Paker,  143rd  111.  Inf. 

E.  .A.  Poone,  126th  Ill.  Inf. 

Poone  Pehymer.  9th  ()hio  Cav. 

Wm.  .A.  Cook.  7th  Ill.  Cav. 

T.  K.  Church,  12th  ( )hio  Inf. 

J.  P.  Davis,  nth  111.  Inf. 

*  Harvey  Devore.  115th  Ill.  Inf. 

Lewis  Foreman.  4ist  Ill.  Inf. 

Christopher  F'agen,  14th  Ill.  Inf. 

W.  H.  Guilford.  20th  Conn.  Inf. 

Harrison  Hart.  7th  Ill.  Cav. 

Julius  Hoi)pe.  14th  Ill.  Inf. 

J.  P.  Isenberg,  3rd  Pa.  Inf. 

J.  H.  Johnston.  54th  Ill.  Inf. 

John  R.  Johnston.  59th  Ill.  Inf. 

*  David  James,  126th  Ill.  Inf. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Jasper  X.  Jarnigan,  14th  Hi.  Inf. 

Jolin  E.  Kinnee,  i22n(l  Ill.  Inf. 

Richard  Lyons,  14th  111.  Inf. 

*  J.  M.  McKibben  46th  Ill.  Inf. 

*  John  Murdock,  115th  Ill.  Inf. 

Isaac  Martin,  54th  Ill.  Inf. 

Thos.  E.  Morgan,  7th  Ill.  Cav. 

Jas.  McAllister,  1st  Ohio  Cav. 

Elgin  iMartin,  115th  Ill.  Inf. 

J.  \\’.  Powers,  94th  Ill.  Inf. 

L.  II.  Parker,  14th  Ill.  Inf. 

Jacob  Risacker,  ist  Ohio  Cav. 

Geo.  \\’.  Rhoads,  63rd  Ind.  Inf. 

Chas.  Rafsnider,  14th  111.  Inf. 

Chas.  T.  Reber,  48th  Penn.  Inf.  | 

G.  A.  Stegniayer,  54th  111.  Inf.  , 

*  Henry  Schane,  14th  Ill.  Inf. 

Jas.  H.  Shaw,  14th  Ill.  Inf. 

Jas.  \\’.  Scott,  115th  Ill.  Inf. 

*  David  H.  Spiehnan,  43  Ohio  Inf. 

E.  Terwillager,  54th  Ill.  Inf. 

*  J.  G.  Walls,  130th  Ohio  Inf. 

*  Louis  Winter,  3rd  Ill.  Cav. 

Jas.  Whitsel,  208th  Penn.  Inf. 

Chas.  E.  Woodward,  79th  Ill.  Inf. 

*  John  O.  Wright,  14th  Ill.  Inf. 

Frank  Winson,  7th  Ill.  Cav. 

W.  H.  X'anderpool,  X.  Y. 

FIRST  OFFICERS  CYRCS  HALL  POST. 

Post  Commander,  Chas.  F.  Reber. 

Senior  \dce-Commander,  Louis  W  inter.  * 
Junior  Vice-Commander,  Lewis  H.  Parker. 
Quartermaster,  Chas.  E.  Woodward. 
Surgeon,  Geo.  Wh  Rhoads 
-Adjutant,  John  Wh  Powers. 

Chaplain,  Truman  C,  Lapham. 
()fficer-of-the-Day,  Findlay  P)ehymer. 
Officer-of-the-Guard,  Elgin  H.  Martin. 
Outer  Guard,  John  E.  Kinnee. 


Sergeant-Major,  Jas,  15.  Isenberg. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant,  Jas.  P.  Davis.  * 

The  following  i)ersons  have  succeeded  each 
other  as  Commander; 

Chas.  E.  W'oodward,  Michael  Freybarger, 
William  E.  Turney,  James  T.  W'eakly,  Harrison 
L.  Hart,  W'ayne  Cramer,  Elgin  H.  Martin, 
Jacob  Risacker.  l{d.  A.  P.oone  is  the  present 
Post  Commander. 

Cyrus  Hall  Post  has  done  no  little  sendee 
in  the  way  of  charity  from  its  Post  fund,  and  has 
done,  and  is  doing  more  and  more  as  the  pass¬ 
ing  years  render  their  comrades  le.ss  and  less 
able  to  earn  a  livelihood.  The  grand  common¬ 
wealth  of  Illinois  has  a  law  on  its  statute  books 
forbidding  any  ex-soldier,  his  widow  or  child¬ 
ren  being  sent  "over  the  hill  to  the  poor  house,” 
but  makes  abundant  ])rovision  for  them  outside, 
and  makes  the  Grand  Army  the  distributor  of 
its  beneficence.  Several  hundred  dollars  were 
last  year  distributed  by  the  relief  committee  of 
Cyrus  Hall  Post,  and  each  succeeding  year  sees 
the  sum  increased. 

SAMUEL  AKIX  POST. 

This  I’ost  was  organized  in  Cowden,  April 
23,  1886,  with  seventeen  charter  members.  John 
D.  Collins,  of  \'andalia,  was  the  mustering  of¬ 
ficer.  The  Post  officers  first  chosen  were : 

Commander,  Thos.  M.  McClanahan. 

Senior  \’ice-Commander,  James  Mara. 

Junior  A’ice-Commander,  John  H.  Akins. 

Adjutant,  Wh  H.  Akins. 

Quartermaster,  Chas.  E.  Zeigler. 

Surgeon,  T.  J.  Fritz. 

Chaplain,  J.  K.  Flenniken. 

Officer-of-the-Day,  W.  L.  Headen. 

Officer-of-the-Gnard,  L.  Sanford. 

Sergeant-Major,  W.  H.  Sullivan, 


V 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Quartermaster-Sergeant.  C.  C.  Fry. 

These  with  the  following  were  the  charter 
members ; 

E.  J.  Holman,  Ilenj.  Fletcher,  David  II. 
Hobbs,  Chas.  R.  Hooper.  Xoah  Toothman.  C. 
I>.  Harwood. 

At  present  the  elective  officers  are : 
Commander,  Chas.  E.  Zeigler. 

S.  C..  James  ^lara. 

J.  C.,  T.  D.  Lamson. 

A.  D.,  L.  H.  Williams. 

Chaplain,  M.  Bechtel. 

Surgeon,  C.  H.  Carr. 

().  G.,  C.  B.  Harwood. 

The  regular  meetings  are  held  the  second 
and  fourth  Saturdays  of  each  month.  At  pre.s- 
ent  there  is  a  total  mendjership  of  31,  most  of 
whom  are  active  in  the  interests  of  the  order 
and  the  well-being  of  the  veterans  and  their 
wards. 

J.  R.  TILLEY  POST,  XO.  304,  TOWER 
HILL,  ILL. 

The  Tower  Hill  Post  was  organized  June 
2S,  1883.  with  29  charter  members.  These  were: 
Com.,  John  E.  Lane. 

S.  C..  C.  M.  Ross. 

J.  \'.  C.,  Win.  Eiler. 

().  D..  Wm.  Brownback. 

O.  M.,  A.  R.  Robinson. 

Adj.,  John  Weeks. 

().  G.,  John  McConnell. 

S.  AL.  T.  B.  Lleaden. 

Sur.,  J.  L.  Brown. 

Geo.  Eben,  J.  M.  Gross,  - -  Rogers,  L. 

D.  Jester,  G.  W.  Grisso,  Jacob  Eringer,  I).  B. 
Russell,  Levi  \'alentine,  Alois  Hildebran,  J.  A. 
Jones,  1.  K.  Story,  J.  L.  Cannon,  Robt.  Higgin¬ 
botham,  Levi  Lightner,  John  Sharrock.  F.  J. 
Brown,  X.  \\\  Lane,  John  Jones,  J.  O.  Wheeler, 
J.  W.  Patrick. 


Since  the  first  organization  the  following 
]iersons  have  held  the  office  of  Post  Commander : 

A.  R.  Robinson,  Wm.  Eiler  (present  com¬ 
mander).  1.  K.  Story,  Lewis  Eiler.  J.  J.  Con¬ 
nolly,  C.  P.  Roberts,  and  G.  W.  Payne. 

Since  the  organization  116  comrades  have 
been  received  by  muster  and  transfer.  Deaths, 
lemovals,  transfers  and  discharges  have,  how¬ 
ever.  cut  this  membershi])  down  to  53. 

D.WID  JAMES  POST  OF  FIXDLAV. 

David  James  Post,  Xo.  757.  G.  .A.  R.,  was 
organized  at  Findlay,  Ilk,  in  .April,  1893.  The 
charter  members  were:  D.  D.  Bare,  George 
Dixon,  John  L'nderwood,  J.  M.  L’nderwood,  B. 
PA  Tym,  C.  1).  Bare,  J.  F.  Shanks.  Wm.  11. 
P'rancisco,  Lafayette  Leach.  E.  K.  Schwartz, 
Wm.  Blackstone,  Reason  Trigg.  1).  R.  \  an 
Reed. 

May  9.  1893.  the  Post  was  mustered  by 
Ca])t.  W  in.  P'.  Turney,  and  installed  by  Col.  C. 
E.  Woodward,  both  officers  and  past  command¬ 
ers  of  Cyrus  Hall  Post.  Xo.  138,  Dept.  Ilk,  Shel¬ 
by  ville.  E.  K.  Schwartz  was  installed  as  the 
first  commander  and  held  the  position  till  Dec. 
1895,  when  X.  B.  Elmore  was  elected  and  held 
the  command  till  Dec.  1898,  when  E.  K. 
Schwartz  was  again  elected  and  held  the  com¬ 
mand  till  Dec.  1900,  When  M.  .A.  Harbert  was 
elected  commander.  J.  F.  Shanks  and  J.  T.  Gwin- 
up  have  been  the  efficient  adjutants;  Geo.  Dixon 
faithfully  discharged  the  duty  of  quartermaster : 
Samuel  B.  Melcher  has  been  the  faithful  chaplain. 
But  two  comrades  belonging  to  the  Post  hav.- 
died  since  its  organization.  The  present  mem 
bership  of  the  Post  is  twenty,  in  good  standing. 

J.  CLEMEXTS  POST.  MOWEAOLA. 

Charter  members  of  J.  Clements  Post. 
Xo.  363,  Dept,  of  Ill.  G.  .A.  R.  are  as  follows ; 


167 


'■HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


*  Robert  l’>.  Wilson.  *  Robert  1.  Smith.  *Jno. 
W.  Greaves — present  commander — *James  E. 
(jrej.jorv.  *I)avid  King,  J.  R.  Aydelott,  Nathan 
Francis — cha])lain — William  H.  Pontius.  Jas. 
(x.  Stewart,  '''.Ambrose  Gilliland,  John  FP  Hyde, 
Jerome  La  Dow,  Edward  Tolson,  *Fred  C. 
Keitch,  Calvin  Clark.  Thos.  C.  M.  Snow,  Sam¬ 
uel  Worsham.  Randall  R.  Adams.  *1.  R.  AIc- 
Kay,  Charles  C.  Cowell.  Jacob  Smith,  John 
Peel,  *Walter  Humphrey.  *H.  A.  Walker.  Wul- 
liam  Dudley,  *Francis  Armstrong,  ■‘^'John  Clark, 
John  W'.  Smith. 

Those  marked  with  a  star  (*)  have  been 
commanders.  R.  lb  Wilson  was  chosen  com¬ 
mander  when  post  was  organized,  Nov.  6.  1893. 
Comrades  Stewart,  LaDow.  Snow,  Adams.  Mc¬ 
Kay.  Jacob  Smith,  Dudley  and  Armstrong  have 
answered  the  last  roll  call. 

This  Post  had  a  most  active  and  efficient 
Relief  Corps,  but  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  J.  E. 
(iregory,  its  beloved  i)resident,  in  lyoo,  the 
Corps  surrendered  its  charter. 

JOHN  HUFFER  I’OvST.  STEWARDSf  )N. 

John  Huffer  Post.  No.  633,  Department  of 
iriinois  G.  A.  R..  was  mustered  and  the  first  of¬ 
ficers  installed  July  2,  1887.  by  Comrade  C.  E. 
Woodward,  and  other  comrades  of  Cyrus  Hall 
Post,  Shelbyville.  The  charter  members  were : 
*Henrv  Temperly,  A,  53rd  111;  T.  H.  McDon¬ 
ald,  E,  6th  Ind. :  C.  C.  Wilson,  F',  2nd  ().  Art.; 
Robt.  Putcher,  G.  70th  Ind.  Inf.;  Samuel  Pxailey, 
K,  14th  Ill.  Inf.;  A.  E.  Harrington,  D,  107th 
Ill.  Inf.;  nVm.  M.  Miller.  F.  ist  Ohio  Cav. ;  C. 
H.  Storm,  C,  135th  Ill.  Inf.;  W.  P.  Layton,  E. 
62nd  Ill.  Inf.  ;*L''riah  Paldwin,  A.  54th  Ill.  Inf.; 
W.  W.  Pierce,  F,  1  15th  Ill.  Inf. ;  W'm.  Temperly, 
A.  54th  Ill.  Inf.;  H.  FI.  York.  A,  51st  Ill.  Inf.; 
A.  W.  Spracklin,  I,  51st  Ohio  Inf.;  Reed  Wal¬ 


ker.  H.  54th  Ill.  Inf.;  W.  E.  Anderson,  D,  53rd 
111.  Inf.;  Scott  McDonald,  F',  73rd  Ind.  Inf.; 
J.  H.  Whitaker,  E.  17th  Ohio  Inf.;  Henry  Den¬ 
nis,  H,  7th  111.  Cav. 

(*)  Deceased. 

Twenty-four  recruits  have  been  mustered 
into  the  ])ost  which  now  has  an  active  member- 
shi])  of  only  about  twelve.  Samuel  Pailey  is  at 
l)resent  Post  adjutant. 

WOMAN’S  RELIEF  CORPS. 

.-\s  an  au.xiliary  of  the  Grand  .Army  of  the 
Re])ublic  the  Woman's  Relief  Cori).s  was  in¬ 
stituted.  As  its  name  imi)lies.  this  organization  is 
comjjosed  of  women — the  widows,  wives,  sis¬ 
ters  and  daughters  of  the  ex-soldiers,  together 
with  any  other  loyal  woman  who  might  desire  to 
join  with  them.  The  ])urpose  of  this  organiza¬ 
tion  was.  and  is,  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  G. 
A.  R.,  and  to  relieve  the  necessities  of  the  veter¬ 
ans,  their  widows  and  orphans.  The  order  has 
])roved  most  efficient  and  has  commended  itself 
to  the  ])eoi)le  generally. 

Cyrus  Hall  Corps,  No.  245,  of  Shelbyville, 
was  instituted  by  Mrs.  E.  R.  Kennedy,  a  dei)art- 
ment  officer  of  Decatur,  March  7th,  1894.  Chas. 
E.  Woodward,  W.  F.  Turney  and  Geo.  D. 
Chafee  contributed  in  means  and  effort  to  the 
organization  and  have  been  always  among  its 
most  steadfast  supporters.  Among  the  leaders 
Mrs.  Mary  J.  Snyder,  Airs.  W.  FA  Turney  and 
Airs.  W.  F.  Gillmore  were  among  the  most 
earnest  and  persistent  advocates  for  the  founda¬ 
tion  of  the  Corps. 

The  charter  members  were ;  Edna  Gill- 
more,  Alollie  J.  Epler,  Jane  Turney,  Alary  E. 
Pisdee,  Emma  South,  Dora  Smith,  Alareda 
Cramer,  Nellie  Hall,  Helen  Howard,  Alartha 


168 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


M.  Marks,  Alice  Illhardt,  Lillie  Westenhaver. 
Alta  Spielnian.  Alice  Martin  and  X  irjjinia  Wor¬ 
ley. 

Officers  for  1894  were: 

President,  Mary  J.  Snyder. 

Senior  \’ice-Pres.,  Jane  Turney. 

Junior  \’ice-Pres.,  Dora  Smith. 

.Treasurer,  Frances  Seaman. 

Secretary.  Mollie  J.  Epler. 

Chaplain,  Mary  E.  Piisdee. 

Conductor,  Addie  J.  Price. 

Guard,  X’irginia  Worley. 

Since  the  organization  the  following  per¬ 
sons  have  served  as  Presidents  : 

Mary  J.  Snider.  Mollie  Epler.  Mary  S.  Mar¬ 
tin  and  Emma  South. 

MOWEAQL'A  WOMAN'S  RELIEF  CORPS. 

This  Corps  has  been  most  efficient  as  an 
au.xiliary  of  the  Moweacpia  Post.  (L  R.,  hut 
was  disbanded  in  .-Xpril,  1898,  on  the  death  of 
its  president,  Mrs.  Deborah  A.  Gregory.  Mrs. 
Pelle  XX’hitworth  was  its  first  president.  The 
ii'embers  in  addition  to  those  named  were : 

Mesdames.  .Amarett  Clark,  Florence  Kirker, 
Martha  Primer,  Lizzie  Polk.  Eliza  Graves,  Al- 
zira  Hays,  Rebecca  Prown,  Edna  \*.  Corrington, 
Sophia  Pury,  Addie  Frazer,  Lillie  Snyder, 
Emma  Jones. ;  Misses  Gertrude  Green,  Lulu 
Primer,  Louella  Hilvety,  Rose  Gregory. 

At  the  tune  of  their  disbandment  the  ladies 
turned  over  to  the  Post  $65  m  cash. 


SONS  OP  X'ETERAXS. 

Shelby ville  also  boasts  of  a  Camj)  of  the 
Sons  of  X'eterans.  The  purpose  of  this  order 
is  to  per])etuatc  work  of  the  G.  A.  R. :  to  take 
u])  the  work  their  fathers  have  prosecuted  so 
long  but  which  in  a  few  short  years  they  will 
have  to  lay  down.  Chas.  T.  Reber  Cam]).  S.  of 
\'..  Xo.  22,  was  organized  March  20,  1894,  and 
named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Chas.  T.  Reber.  the  first 
Commander  of  Cyrus  Hall  Post,  G.  A.  R.  The 
charter  members  were : 

John  .\gney.  Geo.  Tuttle.  Chas.  E.  Veneer. 
.•\  brain  Snyder,  Thos.  Perryman.  Hiram 
Thomas.  E.  K.  Crews,  Jas.  H.  Decker,  Marion 
Coplin,  Geo.  Crawford,  Wm.  Stone,  David  Whit- 
sel.  F.  L.  Rafsnider.  Oscar  ().  Powman,  M.  L. 
Veneer,  John  T.  Reid,  Frank  Xlartin,  Clarence 
F.  Poone.  Joseph  Kelly,  Edward  Pauschert. 
Reuben  Tuttle.  E.  C.  McFadden. 

During  its  existence  Chas.  T.  Reber  Camj) 
h  s  had  six  cai)tains,  to-wit :  Rufus  Tuttle.  Jas. 
H.  Decker,  Pert  Cramer,  Chas.  T.  Worley.  J. 
F.  Pair.  S.  P.  Carr. 

The  j)resent  officers  (1901)  are: 

Ca])tain.  Sidney  P.  Carr. 

1st  Lieut..  Fred  Geer. 

2nd  Lieut.,  Clifton  Kinnamon. 

Cha])lain.  JoJm  Paldwin. 

O.  M.  S..  Clarence  F.  Poone. 

1st.  Sergt.,  Punn  Cramer. 

Color  Sergt..  Harry  Dennebarger. 

Corporal-of-the-Guard,  Wm.  Stone. 

Camp  Guard,  Chas.  T.  Worley. 

Picket  Guard,  Chas.  Graves. 


I 


RAILROADS  -BUSINESS  ENTERPRISES— INSTITUTIONS. 


(IIAPTEH  XIII. 


RAILROADS. 

Tlie  (k‘velc)i)nient  of  any  country  is  facili¬ 
tated  l)v  the  coniinj*'  of  railroads.  The  shrill  cry 
of  the  locomotive  is  far  more  terrorizing  to 
ahorio-inal  conditions  than  the  crack  of  the 
frontiersman's  ride.  The  railroad  brings  a  vast 
influx  of  settlers,  "iant  manufactories,  world-wide 
markets  and  imi)rovements  of  every  kind ;  it 
never  comes  alone.  The  transforming  power  of 
the  steam  locomotive  is  scarcely  less  marvelous 
than  the  fabled  changes  attributed  to  the  effects 
of  a  magical  wand.  As  soon  as  the  tread  of  the 
iron-horse  is  heard,  cities  and  villages  spring  up 
as  though  coming  from  the  ground,  natural  re¬ 
sources  are  developed,  prairies  i)ut-  under  the 
])low.  and  even  mountain-sides  dotted  with 
hamlets. 

In  the  year  1856  the  I’ig  Four  line  was  com- 
])leted.  This  road  extends  entirely  across  the 
county  in  a  slightly  southwesterly  direction, 
entering  in  Ash  Grove  township  and  making  its 
exit  at  Tower  Hill.  The  completion  of  this  line 
marked  a  new  epoch  in  Shelby  history.  St. 
Louis  and  Terre  Haute  ceased  to  be  the  mar¬ 
kets  for  this  fertile  region  ;  farmers  no  longer 
compelled  to  drive  their  stock  and  haul  their 
produce  to  those  distant  points,  loaded  it  upon 
the  cars  at  convenient  places  along  the  line.  The 
day  of  money-making  was  born  !  Where  only 


two  cents  ])er  pound  was  received  for  live-stock 
and  “two-bits"  per  busbel  for  wheat,  in  the 
greater  markets  oi)ened  by  the  locomotive,  the 
double  of  these  early  i)rices  was  soon  realized. 
The  needs  of  the  |)ioneers  which  heretofore 
were  unsupplied,  now  began  to  be  provided  for, 
and  schools,  churches  and  frame  dwellings  liter¬ 
ally  multiplied.  The  first  de])Ot  in  Shelbyville 
was,  for  many  years,  located  in  Moulton  which 
at  that  time  was  the  business  part  of  the  city. 

'I'lie  county  is  now  most  completely  equi])- 
])ed  with  comj)eting  lines  which  offer  direct 
transportation  to  all  points.  These  lines  are  six 
in  number,  and  weave  a  network  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  of  road  through  the  different 
townshi])s.  Few  counties  are  so  favored  in  this 
regard.  The  name  of  one  road  we  have  given  ; 
the  others  we  subjoin  ;  Illinois  Central,  Chicago 
and  Eastern  Illinois,  Wabash,  and  Clover  Leaf. 

ik  ^  ^ 

COAL. 

Among  the  business  enterprises  which  are 
worthy  of  mention  in  this  volume,  the  Mowea- 
(|ua  coal  mine  stands  prominently.  The  mine  is 
owned  and  controlled  by  a  stock  company,  of 
which  George  A.  Kautz  is  president.  The  first 
meeting  of  the  company  was  on  November  27, 
1891,  and  this  corporate  name  was  chosen  :  “The 
Moweaqua  Coal  Mining  and  Manufacturing 
Company."  Since  1898  John  Cairns  has  been 
superintendent  of  the  mine,  and  for  five  years 
previous  to  that  he  was  manager  of  the  same. 


170 


VIEW  OF  SHELBYVILEE  FROM  BLUFF  SOUTHEAST  OF  BIG  FOUR  DEPOT.  2.  SHOWING  C.  cY  E.  I.  BRIDGE  OVER  KASKASKIA. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


There  are  seven  workable  veins  in  the  mine 
wliicli  in  depth  and  thickness  are  as  follows : 

Xo.  I,  depth.  540  feet;  thickness,  6  feet. 

Xo.  2.  depth.  580  feet ;  thickness.  6  feet. 

Xo.  3.  depth.  618  feet;  thickness.  5  feet  4  in. 

Xo.  4.  depth.  698  feet;  thickness.  3  feet  7  in. 

Xo.  5.  depth.  778  feet;  thickness.  3  feet  4  in. 

Xo.  6.  depth.  915  feet;  thickness,  2  feet  6  in. 

Xo.  7.  depth.  920  feet;  thickness  2  feet  4  in. 

The  shaft  is  a  perpendicular  one  and  the 
mine  is  thoroughly  equipped  with  electric 
machinery  for  undercutting  coal,  and  is  lighted 
by  electricity.  The  hoisting  api^aratus  is  capable 
of  hoisting  i.ooo  tons  per  day  of  eight  hours. 
1  he  vein  now  being  worked  is  of  excellent 
((uality.  which  aflfords  a  ready  sale  for  the  entire 
product.  The  coal  from  this  mine  is  shipped  to 
])oints  along  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  in  this 
state,  and  also  to  points  in  Iowa  and  Minnesota. 


Xcar  the  city  of  Shelbyville  there  are  several 
coal  mines  of  greater  or  lesser  importance. 
.Amongst  the  former  that  of  Ik  F.  Stretch,  called 
1  he  Stretch  Mine,  may  he  classed.  It  is  located 
within  a  half  mile  northeast  of  the  city,  and  one 
shaft  is  in  successful  operation.  The  mine  is  112 
feet  deej).  and  the  width  of  the  vein  averages 
twenty  inches.  The  mining  operations  there  be¬ 
gan  in  1890.  and  since  that  time  there  have 
been  more  and  more  evidences  of  a  paying 
ciuantity  of  coal.  For  the  year  preceding  Janu¬ 
ary  I.  1900.  si.xty  thousand  bushels  were  taken 
out.  and  it  is  thought  that  for  this  year  (ujot) 
one  hundred  thousand  bushels  are  in  sight.  Mr. 
Stretch  finds  a  ready  sale  for  his  output  in  Shel¬ 
byville.  While  there  are  but  about  a  dozen  men 
employed  in  this  mine  at  the  present  time,  the 
day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  force  will  be  ma¬ 
terially  increased  because  of  the  larger  mass  of 
coal  which  will  he  uncovered. 


A  number  of  other  coal  mines  are  located 
at  intervals  along  the  Kaskaskia  north  of  the 
city,  and  are  owned  by  Shelbyville  people, 
aimmgst  whom  are  Dr.  llowman.  AI.  Ilrophy 
and  Mr.  Widdick. 

GOLD. 

In  regard  to  the  finding  of  this  precious 
metal  in  Shelbyville.  we  cpiote  as  follows  from 
The  Shelby  County  Leader  of  .April  18.  1901  : 

"Mr.  E.  E.  Waggoner,  mining  expert,  has 
been  hard  at  work  for  some  time  ])rospecting 
along  the  Kaskaskia.  north  of  this  citv.  He  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  Shelhyville  Mining  and 
rros])tcting  coni])any.  and  now  announces 
that  gold  has  been  found  in  paying  (luantities. 

"The  land  where  the  yellow  metal  is  located, 
is  about  two  miles  north  of  the  city  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  on  the  farm  of  Lawson  Killam. 
Mr.  Waggoners  o])mion  is  that  there  are  two 
million  tons  of  ore.  He  has  made  ninetv 
assays,  which  show  an  average  value  of  over  $4 
per  ton.  and  going  as  high  as  $12.60  a  ton. 
After  the  expenses  of  mining  are  paid  there  will 
still  be  a  i)rofit  of  about  $2  ])er  ton.  which  will 
be  a  ])retty  good  thing  for  the  owners. 

"With  the  machinery  which  will  be  ])ut  in  at 
once  from  250  to  300  tons  can  be  handled  in  a 
day  of  24  hours.  The  machinery  will  include  a 
crusher  and  amalgamating  plant,  and  |)robably 
a  cyanide  plant  will  be  added.  This  latter  is  not 
to  save  the  lead  and  silver,  though  these  metals 
are  found  there  in  small  (juantities.  but  is  for  the 
purpose  of  saving  the  fine  gold  which  cannot  be 
secured  in  the  ordinary  wav. 

"The  stockholders  are  all  Shelbyville  men. 
most  of  them  working  men  and  will  i)ush  this 
work  with  vigor.  It  is  said  that  the  jirecious 


171 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


metal  was  also  found  on  the  llarker  place,  one 
mile  west  of  Litliia  S])rings,  and  also  on  Dr. 
llowman’s  farm,  where  the  quality  is  j^ood,  but 
not  found  in  ,<^reat  quantities.” 

(h\S  .\X1)  OIL. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  a  competent  exi)ert  that 
a  ^reat  portion  of  Shelby  county  is  underlaid 
with  gas  and  oil.  In  eamfirmation  of  this  opin¬ 
ion,  these,  particularly  the  former,  have  been 
found  within  the  county. 

ILarly  in  lyoi  a  company  began  work  near 
hindlay,  where  for  several  years  past  gas  has 
been  found  in  quantities  sufficient  to  he  used  for 
fuel  and  lighting  puri)o.ses  by  the  farmers  u[)on 
whose  land  it  was  discovered.  Lp  to  the  present 
(.\|)ril)  the  explorations  have  resulted  in  proving 
that  there  is  gas  in  great  quantities,  and  every 
prospect  for  a  large  ilow  of  oil  as  soon  as  a  suf¬ 
ficient  depth  is  reached.  The  operators  have 
met  with  several  mishaps  in  the  breaking  of  their 
machinery,  which  have  delayed  their  work  scr 
that  no  definite  statement  can  he  made  at  the 
])icsent.  l)Ut  residents  of  Shelby  and  contiguous 
counties  may  confidently  hope  to  he  supplied 
with  these  commodities  in  the  near  future. 


THE  ST.\R  MILLS. 

In  1867  the  largest  fiouring  mill  in  the  west 
was  erected  in  Shelbyville  by  the  late  Charles  C. 
Scovil.  Prior  to  this  time  Mr.  Scovil  had  owned 
and  operated  a  mill  in  a  frame  building  on  the 
])resent  site  of  the  First  National  bank,  and  on 
the  lots  in  the  rear  of  the  same  he  conducted  a 
saw  mill  and  lumber  vard.  The  mill  erected  bv 


him  as  aforesaid,  is  a  large  brick  structure,  still 
standing,  and  now  leased  by  the  Creat  North¬ 
western  Hat  Manufacturing  comi)any.  'I'he  cost 
of  the  building  was  $85,000,  but  a  number  of 
years  afterward,  when  it  ceased  to  be  a  particu¬ 
larly  paying  investment,  it  was  disposed  of  for 
$35,000. 

^  ^ 

H.\T  F.VCTORY. 

manufacturing  industry  which  wdll  un¬ 
doubtedly  be  within  a  short  period  of  time,  the 
largest  concern  in  Central  Illinois,  is  the  North¬ 
western  Hat  Manufactory,  which  is  to  be 
located  in  Shelbyville  in  the  immediate  future, 
d'he  industry  will  be  located  in  the  Star  Mills 
building,  mentioned  above,  and  at  this  writing 
several  carloads  (E  machinery  are  en  route  to 
the  city. 

The  output  of  the  factory  is  to  be  one  hun¬ 
dred  dozen  hats  per  day  from  the  start,  with 
about  one  hundred  workmen  ;  but  it  will  soon 
be  increased  to  three  hundred  dozen  per  day, 
w  hen  between  three  and  four  hundred  people 
w  ill  be  employed.  This  will  be  a  splendid  thing 
for  Shelby  county,  and  other  factories  are  sure  to 
follow. 

*  Hi  *  * 

H.ANDLE  F.ACTORY. 

Shelbyville  is  also  in  possession  of  another 
])aying  industry — the  Handle  Factory — belong¬ 
ing  to  Geo.  F.  and  C.  D.  Nehr.  This  factorv  was 
established  in  1880.  Handles  for  implements  of 
all  discriptions  are  made,  and  a  general  milling 
business  is  also  carried  on.  About  fifty  men  are 
given  steady  employment  by  this  company. 


172 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


BROOM  FACTORY. 

Another  yoimg,  but  i)romisin"  industry, 
worthy  of  prominent  mention,  is  the  Shelhyville 
J’room  Factory,  of  Anglin  &  Boys  Brothers. 
T  liis  factory  has  lieen  in  operation  for  a  few 
weeks,  at  this  writing,  with  a  capacity  of  thirty 
dozen  brooms  per  day.  All  styles  and  grades 
of  brooms  are  manufactured.  More  machinery 
will  be  added  as  required,  and  ere  long  this  will 
be  one  of  the  leading  business  enterprises  of  this 
section  of  the  countrv. 


The  flouring  mill  once  owned  and  operated 
by  the  Farmers’  Mutual  Benefit  association,  is 
now  the  |)roj)erty  of  J.  E.  Jacobs,  and  still  run¬ 
ning.  For  many  years  the  association  flourished 
in  this  county,  and  this  mill  was  one  of  the  most 
important  in  this  section. 

Tower  Hill  has  a  canning  factory  which 
furnishes  a  good  market  for  all  sorts  of  ])roducts 
used  by  such  an  establishment.  Stewardson  has 
a  large  grain  elevator,  as  has  Windsor,  also;  the 
latter  being  one  of  the  largest  in  this  ]>art  of 
Illinois. 

Lack  of  space  demands  that  we  give  hut 
brief  mention  of  the  business  enter])rises  of  the 
county,  and  this  accounts  for  the  fact  that  some 
which  are  i)erhaps  as  deserving  of  mention  as 
those  about  which  we  have  written,  are  omitted. 
Tliis  is  also  true  of  the 

*  *  *  * 

INSTITUTIONS. 

Of  these  we  write  as  fully  as  i)ossihle,  however. 

BANKS. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Shelbyville,  is 
the  oldest  bank  in  the  county,  having  been  or¬ 


ganized  in  1873.  The  first  president  was  O.  S. 
Munsel,  and  the  first  vice-president  was  Philo 
Parker.  In  1876  .\bram  Middlesworth  was 
elected  president,  and  has  retained  the  position 
to  the  present  time.  j.  W.  Powers  has  been  the 
cashier  since  the  inception  of  the  bank. 

The  cai)ital  stock  of  the  First  National  is 
$75,coo.  and  the  surplus.  $25,000.  It  is  one  of 
the  safest  monetary  institutions  in  the  county. 


d'he  Shelhy  County  State  bank  was  organ¬ 
ized  by  a  stock  company  in  1895.  Fhilo  Parker 
is  ])resident  of  the  bank,  John  .\.  Tackett,  vice- 
president.  and  t).  W  .  W  alker,  cashier  since  its 
organization. 


The  hank  of  \  olney  Snyder  &  Comi)any,  a 
private  hank  at  Moweaqua,  was  established  in 
1874.  and  ever  since  has  enjoyed  the  ])atronage 
and  confidence  of  a  great  many  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  comity.  This  was  the  first  bank  in 
that  section  of  Shelbv. 


Another  banking  institution  of  Moweacpia 
is  that  organized  in  1892  under  the  name  of 
Keller,  Brown  &  Company.  In  1899  it  was 
changed  to  Keller,  .\yars  &  Company,  hut  in  the 
recent  past  Mr.  Avars  withdrew  from  the  firm. 
Keller  continuing  the  business  himself.  D.  P. 
Keller  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly 
respected  men  of  Shelhy  county.  This  is  also 
a  private  hank. 


P'pon  withdrawing  from  the  above  men¬ 
tioned  conqiany  Ralph  Avars  formed  a  partner¬ 
ship  with  his  brother,  and  still  continues  a 


I 


— 

/  J 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


.s>-eneral  banking  l)nsiness  under  the  name  of 
Avars  IJrotliers.  fJe  is  a  native  of  Moweacina, 
and  was  cashier  of  the  Keller,  Avars  Company 
l)ank  until  recently.  He  has  the  confidence  of  a 
wide  acquaintanceship  and  will  have  his  share 
of  patronage  in  his  line. 


general  banking  business  is  conducted  at 
Stewardson,  by  David  Mautz,  who  founded  the 
Stewardson  bank  in  1893.  This  institution  is  a 
great  financial  accommodation  to  the  southern 
part  of  tlie  county. 


Windsor  has  its  bank,  called  the  Commer¬ 
cial  State  l)ank.  The  president  is  Thomas  Colli- 
son,  and  the  cashier  is  .\.  T.  Colli.son,  who  is 
assisted  by  .\.  C.  Crays.  The  capital  stock  is 
$30,000. 


h'indlay  has  a  private  bank,  the  Merchants' 
and  Farmers'  hank,  of  which  James  Dazey  is 
president  and  J.  E.  Dazey  cashier. 


Cowden  also  has  a  monetary  institution.  D. 
1).  llrownback,  president,  and  B.  E.  Prater, 
cashier,  do  a  general  banking  business. 

*  *  *  * 

SHELBYX  ILLE  CHIEDREX'S  HOME. 

“There  are  two  things  which  should  not  be  ; 
a  child  without  a  liome — a  home  without  a 
child." 

Acquiesence  in  this  charming  sentiment  has 
found  a  beautiful  expression  in  the  action 


of  Mr.  .-\I)ram  Middlesworth,  who  has 
given  to  the  Illinois  Children's  Home 
and  Aid  society  a  magnificent  prop¬ 
erty  in  the  City  of  Shell)yville,  with  l)ut  one 
condition  attached — that  is  shall  be  used,  “as  a 
home  for  orphan  and  indigent  children  under 
the  control  and  management  of  the  society." 
This  is  the  most  valuable  gift  ever  received  by 
the  society. 

The  Middlesworth  Home  is  the  third  to  be 
used  as  a  receiving  home,  the  others  being 
located  in  the  northern  and  southern  extremities 
of  the  state ;  “The  Englewood  Xursery,"  at 
Chicago,  and  the  \’an  .\r.sdale  Home,  near  Du 
Ouoin.  'I'he  two  last  named,  however,  arc  not 
the  actual  proi)erty  of  the  Children's  Home  and 
.\id  society,  but  are  owned  and  directed  by 
associations  which  care  for  wards  of  the  Society  ; 
though  the  principal  part  of  the  expense  incur¬ 
red  in  the  maintenance  of  the  two  Homes  is  pro¬ 
vided  for  by  the  Society. 

The  Home  which  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  purpose  for 
which  it  is  intended,  that  of  serving  as  a  tem])or- 
ary  refuge  only  for  children  from  the  central 
part  of  the  state  who  may  be  received  by  the 
Society.  It  is  a  fixed  policy  of  the  Association 
to  place  its  children  in  good  homes  with  as  little 
delay  as  possible ;  therefore  the  average  stay  of 
children  in  this  institution  will  doubtless  not 
exceed  four  weeks. 

The  property  donated  by  Mr.  Middlesworth 
consists  of  a  beautiful  tract  of  about  four  acres 
overlooking  the  city,  upon  which  are  a  large 
brick  dwelling  house,  a  wooden  cottage  and  a 
good  barn.  The  house  contains  ten  large  rooms 
which  will  accommodate  in  comfort  at  least 
twenty  children  besides  the  necessary  caretakers. 
The  cottage  is  to  be  used  as  a  receiving  cottage, 
where  it  will  be  possible  to  quarantine  the  in- 


174 


1 


T 


» 


•W 


r 


\ 


V*. 


r 

* 

•v-' 


1 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


coming  children,  thereby  reducing  to  the  mini¬ 
mum  tlie  danger  of  introducing  contagious  di¬ 
seases  into  the  Home.  Heretofore  it  has  l:)een 
necessary  to  transport  children  from  the  center 
to  the  two  extremes  of  the  state  at  a  great  cost 
to  the  society,  and  this  Home  meets  an  urgent 
need. 

The  intrinsic  value  of  the  gift  docs  not  rep¬ 
resent  its  true  worth.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  it  was  the  home. of  Mr.  Middlesworth  ;  the 
home  in  which  he  sjjent  many  years  with  the 
beloved  wife  who  has  preceded  him  to  the  life 
hcvond  ;  the  home  around  which  are  gathered 
some  of  the  dearest  and  most  i)recious  memor¬ 
ies  of  his  life.  Such  is  the  gift  so  generously 
handed  over  to  the  Children’s  Home  and  Aid 
societv  bv  this  noble  man.  to  be  used  by  it  as  a 
nursery  in  which  to  nurture  and  tenderly  care 
for  the  precious  flowers  given  to  earth.  It  is  a 
thank  offering,  a  gift  of  gratitude  to  the  Al¬ 
mighty  for  the  great  measure  of  s])iritual  and 
temporal  prosperity  received  by  the  donor  from 
His  hand:  and  in  the  giving  of  it.  Mr.  Middles¬ 
worth.  the  humble,  unpretentious  servant  whom 
many  will  arise  and  call  blessed,  and  who  has. 
by  his  many  acts  of  kindly  generosity,  glad¬ 
dened  many  hearts,  was  actuated  by  the  desire 
to  render  unto  the  Lord  something  of  value. 
Surely  he  will  receive  the  reward  promised  unto 
those  who  minister  unto  "the  least." 

Our  review  of  the  Middlesworth  Home 
would  be  decidedly  incomjilete  should  we  not 
recount  something  of  what  has  been  accom- 
jilished  by  this  institution. 

The  matron  of  the  Home  is  Mrs.  Annie  M. 
Wilcox,  a  lady  of  rare  tact  and  ability,  and  emi¬ 
nently  fitted  for  the  important  and  complicated 
duties  which  devolve  upon  her.  She  was  for¬ 
merly  the  superintendent  of  the  Du  Quoin  dis¬ 
trict  of  the  Illinois  Children’s  Home  and  .Aid 


society,  and  by  unremitting  though  judicious 
effort  succeeded  in  raising  for  the  society  be¬ 
tween  seven  and  eight  thousand  dollars,  securing 
$3,814.99  in  less  than  four  years’  time.  She  it 
was  who  raised  the  money,  $2,500,  to  pay  for 
the  \’an  Arsdale  Home  at  Du  Quoin.  During 
the  past  six  years,  Mrs.  Wilcox  has  received,  in 
behalf  of  the  society,  and  sent  out  to  desirable 
homes  about  /CO  children.  To  be  more  exidicit. 
there  were  not  700  different  children  :  but  many 
of  those  placed  in  families  have  been  returned 
to  the  Home,  thereby  making  it  necessary  to 
find  new  homes  for  them.  This,  it  will  readily 
he  understood,  was  just  as  great  a  task  as  placing 
them  at  first,  and  so  it  is  the  same  as  though  700 
different  children  had  found  homes  through  the 
efforts  of  Mrs.  \\  ilcox. 

In  entering  u])()n  her  work  in  the  Middles- 

I 

worth  Home,  in  .May  of  this  year,  she  was  ac- 
com])anied  by  .Miss  llarre,  also  of  Du  Quoin, 
and  who  is  her  very  able  assistant.  Since  the 
opening  of  the  work  here — May  the  8th — sixty- 
two  children  have  been  received  in  the  succeed¬ 
ing  five  months.  .Many  of  these  have  been 
])laced  in  good  homes:  some  are  still  at  the  re¬ 
ceiving  Home,  where  they  find  kindly  care  and 
attention  given  by  the  loving  hearts  who  are  in 
charge.  '1  he  average  number  of  children  being 
cared  for  each  month  is  twenty-two.  llesides 
the  two  ladies  already  mentioned,  a  nurse  is  em- 
])loyed  to  care  for  the  tender  little  babes,  of  which 
there  are  several  in  the  Home.  Three  of  the 
children  are  in  school,  and  not  a  Sabbath  has 
passed  without  the  inmates  of  the  Home  being 
taken  t(i  one  of  the  churches  to  Sabbath  school 
and  preaching  service :  so  that  not  only  are  their 
tem])oral  needs  su])i)lied.  but  the  si)iritual  and 
intellectual  natures  are  hy  no  means  neglected. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  society  is  not 
such  as  will  warrant  any  unnecessary  expendi- 


•75 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


tnres,  so  all  bakinj^,  washing  and  ironing  is  done 
at  the  Home,  and  the  whole  institution  is  carried 
on  with  no  more  expense  than  is  really  necessary 
for  the  ahsolnte  needs.  The  rooms  are  comfort- 
ahly  and  tastefnlly  furnished,  a  nnmher  of  them 
being  furnished  by  various  churches,  societies 
and  other  organizations  of  Shelby  county.  Some 
very  useful  and  needed  articles  have  come  from 
Chicago  firms,  showing  a  generosity  and  kindly 
interest  in  this  great  work.  .\  new  furnace  has 
been  placed  in  the  Home.  Apropos  of  this,  we 
quote  from  an  article  by  Mrs.  W  ilcox,  in  the 
( )ctober  numlier  of  “‘The  Children’s  Home 
hinder:"  "One  lad  is  not  convinced  that  he 
can  warm  his  feet  over  a  lot  of  little  holes  strung 
together  in  the  floor.  .Xnother  wants  to  know  if 
we  will  ‘bake  bread  in  it?’  Another  thinks  it  a 
very  funny  thing  to  ‘dig  a  hole  in  the  ground  to 
put  a  big  stove  in.’  ’’  Precious  childhood,  and 
its  innocency  ! 

W’e  quote  another  jjaragraph  from  the  same 
article — an  ai)peal  to  men  and  women  to  receive 
and  care  for  the  little  lads,  as  readily  as  they  do 
the  girls,  who  need  good  homes :  “God  help  us 
to  see  that  the  prosperity  of  our  own  loved  ones, 
as  they  come  to  the  estate  of  manhood  and  wom¬ 
anhood,  hinges' close  upon  what  we  do  now  for 
this  multitude  of  embryo  rulers !  ( )h,  for  the 

love  wjiich  said,  ‘Suffer  the  children  to  come, 
etc.,’  to  permeate  the  lives  of  those  whom  God 
has  blessed  with  homes  and  plenty !  I  hear  the 
broken  voice  of  a  lad  saying  to  me,  ‘Mamma 
Wilcox,  why  don’t  folks  like  us  boys?’  and  I 
look  into  eyes  full  of  tears  and  think,  and  think, 
‘what  can  I  do  for  the  boys !’.  A  beautiful 
baby  in  our  infant-room  enjoys  the  constant  care 
of  a  faithful  nurse :  but  the  baby  is  a  girl.  Some¬ 
body  will  want  her  soon,  and  love  will  open 
heart  and  home  for  her,  and  life  will  be  full  of 
beauty  and  promise,  because  it  is  a  girl.  And 


these  others  will  rise  uj)  in  judgment  and  say, 
‘Ye  did  it  not  unto  me.’  Friends  of  humanity, 
let  us  change  our  tactics  and  do  good  unto  these 
lads.  I  should  think  the  men  would  be  more  in¬ 
terested  in  them,  but,  I  suppose,  these  busy  old 
duffers  forget  that  they  were  boys  once,  and 
needed  friends.  At  least  they  act  like  it — poor 
old  souls,  without  any  of  the  ‘milk  of  human 
kindness  fiowing  in  their  breasts!’  ()h,  for  a 
proj)hetic  vision  to  show  them  how  their  ‘heirs 
a])parent’  are  longing  for  their  demise  that  the 
wealth  so  hardly  accjuired  shall  fall  to  their  easy 
handling:  And  then  what?  Instead  of  the 
brave  per])etuator  of  a  good  man’s  name,  there 
will  be  a  crumbling  of  all  that  he  cherished,  and 
the  end  will  be  as  if  he  had  never  lived,  and  no¬ 
body  to  thank  him  for  anything.  1  would  not 
be  such  a  man  if  I  could,  and  I  could  not  if  I 
would,  thank  heaven  !’’ 

In  the  September  number  of  the  Home 
h'inder,  Mrs.  W'ilcox  writes:  “What  is  the  mat¬ 
ter  with  peojile?  If  I  wished  to  rear  a  lasting, 
self-jierpetuating  monument  to  myself,  I  would 
have  a  boy — somebody’s  boy — to  bring  through 
the  ills,  trials,  temptations  and  tantrums  of  boy¬ 
hood  into  a  practical,  common  sense,  Christian 
manhood,  feeling  confident  all  the  time  that  .he 
more  tantrums  he  had  during  the  process,  the 
clearer  cut  would  be  his  aims  as  a  man.  His 
‘heredity’  would  not  bother  me  a  minute  either 
—  not  a  minute.  The  Middlesworth  Home  wants 
good  homes  for  boys,  then  more  good  homes 
for  boys,  then  more,  and  a  washing-machine  to 
help  keep  their  clothes  clean,  and  a  good  wringer 
?s  an  assistant,  and  a  large  lawn  swing  for  the 
boys,  and  a  tent,  and  anything  else  that  any  man, 
or  men,  can  remember  of  liking  in  boyhood.  Oh  ! 
we  draw  the  line  at  guns,  firecrackers  and  drums 
— yes,  very  decidedly  at  drums !’’ 

Thus,  under  the  capable  management  of 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


this  good  woman,  the  work  of  the  Middlesworth 
Home  is  l)eing  carried  on.  Indigent  chddren  are 
being  received,  and  then  placed  in  good  homes, 
where  they  will  grow  up  to  pure  and  lovely 
womanhood  and  manhood — “saved  from  pau- 
])erism,  vagabondage  and  crime.”  It  is  a  work 
which  should  elicit  the  sympathy  and  interest 
of  all  who  have  a  corner  in  their  heart  for  the 
“little  ones and  it  is  a  matter  of  congratulation 
that  more  and  more  of  the  good  people  of  this 
part  of  the  state  are  rallying  to  the  support  of 
“The  Middlesworth  Home." 


Since  the  preceding  sketch  was  i)repared  for 
this  volume  (juite  an  important  change  has  been 
wrought  in  the  management  of  the  Home.  Mrs. 
-Annie  M.  \\  ilcox,  referred  to  above,  who  so 
faithfully  and  tenderly  cared  for  the  little  ones 
committed  to  her  care,  resigned  her  position  as 
matron,  and  removed  to  Fresno,  California.  She 
did  not  grow  weary  of  this  work,  but  failing 


health  here,  and  the  more  agreeable  climate  of 
California  were  factors  which  induced  her  to 
make  the  change.  Though  the  managers  of  the 
Home  were  loth  to  part  with  Mrs.  W'ilco.x,  they 
congratulate  themselves  on  being  able  to  secure 
so  worthy  a  successor  in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Anna 
R.  Simmons. 

Airs.  Simmons  is  an  organizer  of  theXational 
\\’.  C.  T.  U.,  a  lady  of  rare  gifts  as  a  platform 
lecturer,  and  has  a  charm  of  manner  and  ad¬ 
dress  which  at  once  endear  her  to  those  who 
make  her  ac(iuaintance.  She  has  a  large  heart, 
in  which  there  is  plenty  of  room  for  each  of  the 
twenty-six  unfortunate  little  inmates  of  the 
1  lome  :  and  they  receive  from  her  a  mother’s  love 
and  care. 

The  swing  and  the  furnace  and  some  other 
things  for  which  Mrs.  Wilcox  asked  have  been 
added,  but  still  there  is  great  need  for  hearty 
sup])ort  from  the  friends  of  the  Home,  in  order 
for  all  the  wants  of  the  orphaned  children  to  be 
supplied. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


SHELl’.YX  ILLE  CHAUTAUQUA  AXD 
SHELBY  COUNTY  EAIR 
ASSOCIATION. 

j.  C.  Westervelt,  Pres't. 

W.  E.  Walker,  \’ice-Pres.  ' 

G.  A.  Roberts,  Sec'y. 

Chas.  E.  Keller,  Treas. 

T.  F.  Dove,  Cor.  Sec’y. 


DIRECTORvS— 


J.  D.  Miller, 

J.  B.  Isenberg-, 

1.  C.  Westervelt, 
W.  E.  Walker 


T.  F.  Dove, 

0.  A.  Roberts, 

W.  O.  Wallace, 

W.  S.  ^liddleswortb. 


W.  S.  Beeni. 


EXECUTIX’E  COALMITTEE— 

J.  C.  Westervelt,  W.  E.  Walker, 

J.  B.  Isenberg,  T,  F.  Dove, 

STOCKHOLDERS— 


J.  B.  Isenberg, 

J.  C.  Westervelt, 
Peter  Diddea, 

C.  L.  Wagner, 

T.  F.  Dove, 

S.  W.  Conn. 

C.  E.  Keller, 

E.  J.  Scarborough, 
.Anthony  Thornton, 
Win.  H.  Ragan, 

W.  E.  Walker, 

W.  O.  Wallace, 
Max  Kleeman, 

O.  W.  Walker, 

W.  B.  Sturgis, 


John  D.  Miller, 

H.  J.  Hamlin, 

S.  A.  Richardson. 

W.  H.  Beeni, 

E.  A.  Richardson, 

H.  AI.  Alartin, 

W.  S.AIiddlesworth, 
B.  S.  Yost. 

Lee  Alook, 

G.  W.  Cook, 

John  A.  Tackett, 
Henry  A.  Stewardson, 
Geo.  A.  Roberts, 

J.  W.  Igo, 

J.  A.  Alontgoniery. 


Shelbyville  Chautaucjua,  July  25  to  .August  4th, 
II  days;  County  Fair,  September  10 — 15, 

5  days. 

The  attractions  at  the  “Old  Fair  Grounds” 
will,  during  this  current  year  (1901),  be  un¬ 


rivaled.  The  property  is  now  in  the  hands  of 
thorough  business  men  who  will  spare  neither 
time  nor  means  in  making  the  revivifying  of  a 
nearly  defunct  fair  historic  occasions  in  the  an¬ 
nals  of  Shelby  County.  The  grounds  will  be  im¬ 
proved  and  completely  renovated,  buildings  will 
be  erected,  etc.  .Ample  arrangements  for  the 
comfort  of  the  people  will  be  provided.  The 
announcements  concerning  the  fair  cannot  now 
be  made,  but  remember  the  date !  The  follow¬ 
ing  list  of  noted  talent  will  furnish  some  idea  of 
the  intellectual  treat  to  be  furnished  by  the  Chau- 
taiuiua : 

Di'.  Xacy  .McIUh*  WatcM's.  of  Biiif;h:imi)t-<)ii,  X. 
Y.,  will  l)t*  platform  maiiafjer.  Dr.  WaltiM-s  lectured 
in  Slielb.vville  in  tlie  last  lecture  course.  Kollowiiif; 
is  an  incomi)lete  i)ro};raiu  of  tahmt  now  positively 
s(‘cured.  This  is.  Of  course,  subject  to  change: 

.Inly  2.0— .Afternoon  not  tilled;  evening— Elias  Day. 
.Vrion  J.adies’  (juartet  all  day. 

.July  2b— .Vfternoon  Ualph  I’arlette.  humorist; 
evening— Arion  Lathes'  (jijartet. 

.July  27— Afternoon— Kalph  I'arlette,  Olaf  Krarer, 
the  Estjuimau;  evening— Arion  J.adies'  Quartet  anil 
Stanley  Davit's,  elocutionist. 

.July  'i.S— yjorning- Dr.  Walters;  afternoon— Itev. 
Sam  I*.  .Jones;  evening— sacred  concert  by  Arion 
l.itdies'  (juartet. 

.July  21)— .Vfternoon — Olaf  Erarer;  evening— Car¬ 
ter,  the  magician,  and  .Vrion  Quartet. 

.July  .'to — .Vfternoon — (Jen.  .John  K.  (Jordon;  even¬ 
ing — Dr.  Walters,  Stanley  Davies  and  Arion  tjmirtet. 

.July  21— .Vfternoon— yirs.  Maud  Booth;  evening 
— -Vrion  (jnartet. 

.Vugust  1— Morning— Dr.  M.  C.  B.  .Mas:)n;  after¬ 
noon— Hon.  .John  Barrett;  evening — Mendelssohn  Male 
(juartet;  Sybil  Sammis  and  (leo.  Ivurtz. 

Augu.st  2— .Morning— Dr.  M.  C.  B.  Ma.son;  after¬ 
noon— (Jen.  Howard;  evening— iMendelssohn  tjuartet, 
Sybil  Sammis  and  (Jeo.  Ivurtz. 

.Vugust  — .Vfternoon— Eugene  V.  Debs;  evening — 
Dr.  Walters.  Mendelssohn  (juartet.  Staidey  Davies. 

.Vugust  -t — Dr.  M'alters,  Mendelssohn  Quartet. 
Season  Tickets  for  only  $1.50.  General  .Ad¬ 
mission  25  Cents. 


178 


ECCLESIASTICAL  WORK  IN  SHELBY  COUNTY. 


CII.VPTEI!  XIV. 


The  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Shelby  county 
is  one  of  the  most  important  features  of  this  vol¬ 
ume.  and  it  is  with  jirofound  regret  we  are  un¬ 
able  to  give  a  more  coinjilete  resume  of  that 
work.  l’)Ut  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  compile 
data  from  which  to  write  a  comprehensive 
sketch  of  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  a  church. 
While  many  of  those  interested  in  any  church 
society  may  have  considerable  general  informa¬ 
tion  in  regard  to  the  same,  still  when  it  comes  to 
statistical  facts  and  figures  they  cannot  give 
them.  However,  with  the  kindly  assistance  of 
pastors  and  others,  we  are  enabled  to  give  much 
interesting  matter  relative  to  various  denomina¬ 
tions  which  exist  and  are  'doing  noble  work 
within  Shelby  county.  Others  promised  their 
assistance,  but  from  some  cause  failed  to  render 
the  needed  hel]). 

THE  PRESBYTERI.W'. 

(By  Rev.  B.  W.  Tyler.) 

The  history  of  Presbyterianism  in  Shelby 
county  is  like  the  history  of  individuals  and  of 
families.  It  chronicles  birth,  growth,  death, 
new  generations,  failures  and  successes,  adversi¬ 
ties  and  prosperities.  But  the  influence  of 
Calvinism  has  touched  several  important  sec¬ 
tions  of  the  county  and  has  left  its  imi)ress  of 
sturdy  Christian  manhood  and  womanhood,  and 


an  evangelical  faith  conciuering  and  to  con(|uer. 
( )ne  of  the  children  to  die  at  an  early  age  was 
the  Walnut  Grove  church,  organized  in  1839. 
with  Amos  P.  Balch  and  Tobias  Rainer,  as 
elders,  by  Rev.  Jno.  McDonald.  The  name  was 
changed  to  "McCluskey"  by  the  Presbytery. 
Se])t.  28,  1843.  It  was  situated  in  T.  11,  R.  5  E. 
Robert  Rutherford  ministered  to  this  people  for 
a  time,  but  it  has  long  been  extinct. 

A  more  hardy  child  was  the  Prairie  Bird 
church  in  T.  12  X..  R.  3  E.  S.  19.  SE  (piarter.  in 
the  little  village  of  that  name.  The  church  site, 
which  included  a  cemetery,  contained  two  acres. 
The  organization  had  its  birth  .April  8.  i860. 
There  were  26  members  at  the  beginnin<4. 
drawn  largely  from  'Shelbyville  church.  All  three 
of  the  first  elders,  Daniel  Ewing,  George  B.  Hill 
and  Cicoige  Griggs,  were  from  the  parent 
church.  Its  history  was  one  of  manv  changes, 
caused  largely  by  removals  and  death.  The 
pul])it  supjfly  was  usually  arranged  in  conjunc¬ 
tion  with  Tower  Hill.  Those  who  were  left,  be¬ 
coming  discouraged  some  few  vears  ago,  gave 
up  the  organization,  many  of  them  uniting  with 
the  Evangelical  .Association  church  in  an  ad¬ 
joining  neighborhood. 

But  there  were  hardier  children  and  they 
survive.  The  eldest  of  these  is  the  strongest — 
the  First  church  of  Shelbyville. 

SHELBAA'ILLE  CHDRCK. 

There  have  been  two  organizations  in  Shel¬ 
byville.  T  nder  the  Old  School  Presbvtery  of 
Palestine,  twelve  members  organized  a  church 


179 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


in  the  Court  House,  July  31.  1843.  Tlie  minis¬ 
ters  in  charge  of  the  l)eginning  were  Rev.  Joseph 
Platt  and  Rev.  J.  S.  Reasoner.  Two  elders  were 
chosen,  namely,  David  Ewing  and  James  Elder. 
The  only  supi)ly  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Platt,  who 
during  one  year  visited  the  church  once  every 
six  weeks,  spending  four  or  five  days  on  each 
occasion.  ( )nly  once  or  twice  was  it  represented 
in  Presbytery,  and  all  of  the  records  were  lost. 
It  was  dissolved  by  Presbytery  in  session  at 
Charleston,  .April  2d,  1852. 

The  i)resent  church  was  organized  under 
the  Xew  School  Presbytery,  in  a  barn  at 
Prairie  P.ird,  June  30,  1851,  by  Rev.  Rilious 
Pond  and  Rev.  Elisha  Jenney,  with  these  mem¬ 
bers:  Robert  llurke  and  Esther  llurke,  his  wife; 
David  Ewing  and  Evelyn  Ewing,  his  wife;  .Adam 
Eulton  and  Elizabeth  Eulton,  his  wife;  Ceorge 
Hill  and  Elizabeth  Hill,  his  wife;  Mrs.  Martha 
W'eakly,  Mrs.  Sarah  Cami)bell,  Mrs.  Jane  Eick- 
ner,  Mrs.  Xancy  Ogden,  Mrs.  M.  H.  Moulton, 
Miss  Alarv  H.  Mclver,  Miss  Sarah  Hill, 
Mrs.  Sarah  P)reckenridge,  Miss  Mary 
.Ann  P)urke  and  Miss  Mary  .Ann 
Eversole.  The  official  body  of  the  church  has 
always  been  composed  of  able  men.  Those  who 
have  served  the  church  as  elders  are  as  follows ; 
David  Ewing,  June  30,  1851 — April  7,  i860; 
Jan.  4,  1872 — March  13,  1885.  George  Hill, 

Feb.  7,  1852 — .April  7,  i860;  Sept.  10,  1882 — 
July  14,  1895.  J’lO-  Amlin,  Feb.  27,  1857 — 
.Aug.,  1858.  John  Hunter,  Xov.  21.  1858 — 
.April  2,  1865.  George  Griggs,  Xov.  21,  1858 — 
.April  7,  i860.  George  Hannaman,  .April  7,  i860 

— - .  Robt.  Carnes,  .April  7,  i860 — March 

20,  1869.  Ebenezer  Cheney.  .April  10,  1864 — 
.Aug.  12,  1871.  Lindsay  AIcMorris,  Alarch  11, 
1866 — Jan,  24.  1891.  Thos.  H.  West,  March 

11,  1866 - .  James  D.  Hunter,  Jan.  4,  ^872 

— 1897.  J.  F.  Gowdy,  Sept.  10,  1882 — Jan., 
1884.  [Iradford  P.  Hearing,  Jan.  6,  1884 — 


- .  Horace  L.  .Martin,  Jan.  (i,  1884 - . 

Hiram  M.  Scarborough,  Jan.  i,  1894 —  - . 

Thos.  H.  Shivers,  Jan.  1,  1894 — July  18,  1898. 
Julius  F.  Christman,  .March  28,  1897 — Alarch 
29,  1900.  There  were  never  but  two  directors 
chosen.  Messrs.  James  1).  Plunter  and  Geo.  (P 
Hearing  having  been  ordained  to  that  office 
March  11.  1866. 

The  history  of  the  church  clusters  around 
the  following  stated  sujiplies  and  pastors ;  Rev. 
J.  M.  (irant,  who  took  charge  at  the  time  of  the 
organization  and  continued  to  labor  here  until 
his  death  from  cholera.  .Aug.  1.  1855;  Rev.  J. 
Wilson,  1856 — 1859;  Rev.  W.  P.  ( )rmsby,  i860 
—  1861;  Rev.  James  15.  Sheldon,  1861  — 1862; 
Rev.  Timothy  Hill,  D.  1).,  1862 — 1865;  Rev. 

David  Diamond,  D.  1).,  1865 — 1866;  Rev.  R.  D. 
\  an  Duersen,  D.  1).,  18617 — 1871;  Rev.  L.  1. 
Root,  1871  — 1874;  Rev.  llenjamin  .Mills,  D.  D., 
,874—1877;  Rev.  W.  C.  West.  1878—1882; 
Rev.  H.  S.  Jordan,  D.  1).,  1883 — 1885;  Rev.  Ed. 
Carleton  Pell.  D.  D.,  1885—1886;  Rev.  W.  J. 
Frazer,  D.  D.,  1886 — 1890;  Rev.  W'.  H.  Lloyd, 
1890 — 1897;  Rev.  J.  X.  Peall,  1897 — 1899;  Rev. 
15.  W.  Tyler,  1900 - . 

The  first  house  of  worshij)  stood  one  block 
west  of  the  present  site  and  on  the  opposite  side 
of  Xorth  First  street.  It  was  a  frame  building 
erected  in  1856  or  1857,  at  a  cost  of  six  hundred 
dollars.  The  present  house  was  erected  in  1864 
at  a  cost  of  $5,500  and  is  a  substantial  brick 
building  with  main  audience  room  and  gallery 
upstairs ;  lecture  room,  class  room,  office  and 
kitchen  in  the  lower  story. 

This  was  modernized  and  entirely  renovated 
in  1892,  at  a  cost  of  $6,500;  while  an  additional 
expense  of  about  $2,000  was  put  on  it  in  1900, 
the  chief  addition  being  a  handsome  pipe-organ 
of  superior  sweetness  and  power.  In  1899  the 
congregation  built  a  commodious  and  elegant 
manse  on  the  rear  of  the  church  lot.  which  has 


180 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


all  the  modern  improvements.  This  at  a  cost  in 
building  of  $3,000. 

Shelbyville  church  has  always  been  a  con¬ 
servative  body,  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  doctrines 
and  traditions  of  the  denomination.  Her  mem¬ 
bers  have  been  abundant  in  good  works,  all  of 
the  missionary  agencies  of  the  church  being 
liberally  sustained.  A  prosperous  Sunday 
School,  a  working  Christian  Endeavor,  a  very 
large  and  enthusiastic  Woman's  Missionary 
Society,  look  after  these  varied  needs  and  inter¬ 
ests  ;  while  a  hard-working  .\id  Society  has  been 
strumcntal  in  bringing  about  these  improve¬ 
ments. 

As  an  outside  benevolence,  is  the  Middles- 
worth  Orphans'  Home,  given  to  the  Children's 
Home  Society  of  Illinois  i)y  Mr.  Abram  Mid- 
dlesworth,  a  member  of  this  church. 

WEST  OKAW  CHURCH, 

located  at  Prairie  Home,  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  northeast  (piarter  of  S.  34,  T.  14 
X.,  R.  3,  E.  of  3d  P.  M.,  sprang  into  existence 
( )ctober  20.  i860.  In  the  midst  of  a  very  rich 
farming  community,  and  surrounded  by 
wealthy  farmers  with  Presbyterian  tendencies 
and  antecedents,  it  soon  rose  to  a  place  of  promi¬ 
nence.  Those  whose  names  appear  on  the 
roll  as  charter  members,  are  O.  M.  Thompson. 
Eliza  Thompson,  Margaret  Thompson.  Harriet 
X.  Thompson,  Samuel  G.  Travis. .Anna  P>.  Travis. 
.Alice  Lay.  Catherine  E.  Travis.  Mary  Foster, 
Harris  B.  Thompson,  Elizabeth  Thompson,  Robt. 
Lay,  J.  J.  Freeland,  Mary  R.  Freeland,  Catherine 
Freeland,  Sarah  G.  Freeland,  Mary  Wingett, 
Ann  Berg,  Henry  Berg.  F.  M.  Chamberlain,  .Ann 
E.  Chamberlin.  Eleanor  Gray,  Mercey  H.  Bacon. 
Emily  J.  Richardson,  James  S.  Travis.  To  these 
were  soon  added  many  others,  so  that  after  a  few 
years  there  was  found  in  this  country  church  a 
property,  consisting  of  a  frame  building  with 


cemetery  adjoining,  and  a  two  story,  frame  j^ar- 
sonage,  one  half  mile  south — the  whole  being- 
worth  $5,000.  .A  salary  of  $1,000  was  paid  the 
minister  and  the  use  of  the  manse.  But  losses 
by  death  and  removal  to  the  cities  leaving  a 
community  of  changing  renters  with  varied  or 
no  beliefs,  has  weakened  the  church  until  now 
it  is  a  great  struggle  to  keej)  it  moving.  The 
salary  has  been  cut  to  $500:  the  membership  'S 
only  about  80.  but  it  is  the  candle  still  lighted  n 
that  community  and  through  its  Sunday  School. 
Christian  Endeavor  and  church  services  is  teach¬ 
ing  the  strong  doctrines  of  the  faith  for  the  max¬ 
ing  of  manhood  and  womanhood. 

The  elders  in  charge  since  the  founding 
have  been  Gardner  M.  Thompson,  John  J.  Free¬ 
land,  Samuel  G.  Travis,  Henry  Berg,  F.  M. 
Chamberlain,  William  Bard.  James  G.  Marshall. 
James  L.  Xeil,  Xelson  \’.  Stine,  William  McBur- 
nev,  F^rederick  Orris,  S.  T.  Milliken,  J.  H.  Baird. 
John  Steward — the  last  three  constituting  the 
present  session.  The  ministers  laboring  here 
have  been  H.  R.  Lewis,  two  years;  Clark 
London,  six  years;  J.  1).  Jenkins,  two  years; 
Julius  Spencer,  3  years;  William  E.  Lincoln.  J. 
X.  Wright,  ().  P.  Galloway,  M.  F.  Paisley, 
David  McCracken.  A  debt  is  owed  this  church 
bv  the  stronger  churches  in  this  and  other 
states,  for  the  earnest  workers  it  has.  and  is  still, 
furnishing  them  by  removal  of  its  members. 

Two  other  churches  were  organized  at  about 
the  same  time — Those  at  Tower  Hill  and  Mo- 
weaqua. 

TOWER  HILL. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Tower 
Hill  was  organized  by  Rev.  A.  T.  Xorton  and 
Rev.  William  P.  Teitsworth,  February  17.  1867. 
with  these  members ;  Sylvester  L.  \*an  Dyke. 
Airs.  Lucy  .A.  A'an  Dyke,  Thomas  B.  Johnson. 
M’illiam  AIcKittrick,  Mrs.  Alargaret  McKittrick, 


181 


HIS  TOR  1C  SKT  TCI  I. 


Mrs.  Susannah  ll.  liaines.  Dr.  (leorge  W’. 
Krinj^er,  Mrs.  Martlia  Ih  Printer,  Mrs.  Caroline 
li^veritt,  Perry  McDowell,  Miss  Celestia  A.  \'an 
Dyke,  Francis  McKittrick,  Sanuiel  McKittrick, 
Miss  Mary  A.  Paines,  Miss  Francis  J.  Paines, 
and  Janies  M.  Cook.  The  church  came  under 
the  care  of  W'ahash  Presbytery,  althonj^h  tem- 
])orarily  received  by  that  of  Alton.  The  elders 
have  been,  Sylvester  L.  \  an  Dyke,  'riionias  P. 
Johnson,  Dr.  Georj>^e  W.  Fringer,  Janies  J. 
Wiley,  Frederick  Stnnipf,  IT  H.  R.  Paines,  S.  P. 
Powers,  Dr.  John  Morgan,  PI.  F.  Fang-ht,  Roht. 
h'leniing,  Jacob  Teighty,  Steidien  Richards,  A. 
.\.  Filer,  A.  A.  Leighty  and  William  McKittrick. 
'I'he  jiresent  session  is  composed  of  Messrs. 
Fleming,  Filer  and  Stnngif. 

'J'he  following  ministers  have  preached  for 
this  iieople,  O.  A.  Pollock,  one  year:  Xathaniel 
Williams,  one  year;  J.  D.  Jenkins,  one  year; 
■Adam  Johnston,  eleven  years;  Leonard  Keeler, 
two  years;  Thos.  S.  Park,  five  years;  X.  C. 
(Preen,  two  years;  and  C.  D.  Smith,  who  is  now 
on  his  second  year.  The  house  of  worship  is  a 
substantial  frame  hnilding,  erected  in  1867,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,800.  An  addition  has  since  been  built 
at  an  expense  of  $600.  About  1896  a  parsonage 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  So  that  the  plant 
is  a  good  one.  The  membership  is  now  about 
80.  The  difficnlty  in  the  way  is  the  continudl 
removal  of  members  to  other  points,  thus  keep¬ 
ing  the  church  weak.  Its  inflnence  in  the  coni- 
ninnity  is  fully  e(|nal  to  any  other  and  its  Sunday 
School,  Young  People’s  and  Woman's  Mission¬ 
ary  Societies  well  sustained. 

MOWEACdUA. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Moweaqna  was 

« 

organized  May  18  and  19,  1867,  by  a  committee 
consisting  of  Rev.  S.  W.  Alitchell,  Rev.  Clark 
London  and  Elder  S.  H.  Wilson.  There  were 
thirteen  members  in  the  organization.  The  el¬ 


ders  chosen  were  Lewis  Long  and  F.  M.  Cham¬ 
berlain.  During  the  fir.st  four  years  of  its  exist¬ 
ence,  it  may  truthfully  be  said  that  the  promise 
was  to  "the  little  flock."  With  no  house  of  wor¬ 
ship,  with  only  a  small  band  of  workers,  yet  with 
the  Spirit  of  Cod  in  their  midst,  they  labored  to¬ 
gether.  The  only  regular  service  was  a  weekly 
prayer-meeting,  held  in  the  homes  of  the  faith¬ 
ful  few.  Those  who  were  ])rivileged  to  be 
])iesent  at  the  services  bear  testimony  to  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  and  gracious  benedictions 
which  came  upon  them  all.  An  occasional 
lu'eaching  service  was  held  in  the  M.  E.  church. 
Put  in  1872,  this  little  band,  assisted  by  the 
Poard  of  Church  Erection,  rejoiced  in  the  erec¬ 
tion  and  dedication  of  a  neat  and  comfortable 
frame  church  home,  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  Im¬ 
mediately  after  this  forward  stej)  a  gracious  re¬ 
vival  was  experienced,  and  the  church  was  very 
pros])erous,  being  as  strong  as  any  in  the  com¬ 
munity.  Put  a  period  of  decline  followed.  Family 
after  family  of  the  Presbyterian  household  of 
faith  left  the  city,  and  the  church  has  never  re¬ 
gained  its  former  footing.  Still  with  a  mem¬ 
bership  of  about  40,  tried  and  true,  there  is  main¬ 
tained  a  flourishing  Sabbath  school,  prayer¬ 
meeting,  Christian  Endeavor  and  Woman's  Mis¬ 
sionary  Society.  The  church  is  surely  of  the 
Lord’s  own  planting,  and  can  know  no  such 
thing  as  death.  The  present  elders  are  Thomas 
Tiudson  and  R.  P.  Wilson. 

One  other  church,  that  of 

PETHANY, 

situated  near  Yantisville,  seven  miles  directly 
north  of  Tower  Hill,  has  taught  Calvinism  in 
that  part  of  the  county.  Never  a  strong  organi¬ 
zation,  during  its  thirty  years  of  existence, 
averaging  about  30  to  40  members.  It  too,  has 
sent  out  to  the  towns  and  cities  various  addi¬ 
tions  to  their  working  force.  An  excellent  brick 


182 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


building,  erected  some  years  ago.  affords  a  com¬ 
fortable  church  home,  and  a  band  of  devoted 
members,  mostly  women,  keep  up  a  steady  effort 
for  righteousness.  Brighter  prospects,  under 
the  Illinois  plan  of  Home  Missions,  are  in  view 
for  this  faithful  little  band  of  loyal  workers. 


Thus  no  small  part  was  played  by  Presbyter¬ 
ians  in  this  county’s  history.  The  names  of  those 
associated  with  the  beginnings  of  the  churches 
and  their  official  bodies  are  names 
of  persons  prominent  in  the  forces 
which  counted  for  development  along 
the  best  lines.  The  ministers  laboring  in  these 
fields  have  been  men  of  God,  and-their  infiuence 
has  been  almost  measureless  in  these  formative 
days  of  the  past.  Building  on  such  a  history 
there  surely  is  a  future  for  Presbyterianism  in 
Shelby  county. 

*  *  *  * 

ST.  PAUL'S  REFORMED. 

(By  Rev.  John  F.  Bair.) 

Saint  Paul’s  Reformed  church,  located  five 
miles  northwest  of  Shelbyville.  was  organized 
about  1850,  by  Rev.  John  McConnel.  L'ntil  1859 
the  congregation  had  a  struggle  for  an  existence. 
In  1859.  Rev.  H.  K.  Baines  was  elected  pastor. 
The  church  has  been  served  by  the  following 
pastors:  Rev.  ().  E.  Lake.  Rev.  H.  Wilson. 
Rev.  S.  P.  Myers.  Rev.  J.  F.  Butler.  Rev.  J.  W'ol- 
bach.  Rev.  J.  W’.  Alspach.  Rev.  L.  C.  Summer, 
Rev.  R.  F.  Oplinger  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Bair. 

For  many  years  the  congregation  faced 
many  discouragements,  but  like  their  brave 
founder,  Ulrich  Zwingli,  they  did  not  give  up 
in  despair,  but  pushed  bravely  on.  Lender  the 
leadership  of  Rev.  J.  W’.  Alspach  from  1892  untd 


his  death  in  1897  the  congregation  prospered 
])erhaps  more  than  at  any  other  period  m  its  his¬ 
tory  previous. 

W  hen  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  J.  F.  Bair 
took  charge  of  the  field  in  the  spring  of  1898,  he 
found  it  in  good  condition.  The  membership 
numbered  75.  and  there  was  a  good  Sunday 
School  which  was  progressing  rapidly  under  the 
earnest  care  of  Sujierintendent  John  F.  Runkel. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Bair  21  mem¬ 
bers  have  been  added  to  the  congregation,  and 
a  neat,  new  church  edifice  has  been  erected 
which  was  dedicated  Dec.  17.  1899.  debt. 

The  oldest  member  of  the  congregation  is  Mrs. 
John  Runkel.  now  in  her  86th  year.  Other  old 
members  who  have  made  this  their  church  home 
for  niany  years  are:  John  Runkel.  Sr..  Joseph 
llish,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Joseph  Hish,  A.  J.  Tice.  Mrs. 

J.  Tice. 

The  statistics  presented  at  the  last  regular 
meeting  of  Illinois  Classes  show  the  following 
figures:  Members.  95;  communed  during  year, 
87;  unconfirmed,  50;  infant  baptisms,  6:  adult 
baptisms,  1:  confirmed.  15;  contributions  for 
benevolence.  $93.47;  contributed  for  congrega¬ 
tional  pur])oses,  $1,330;  church  ])apers  taken.  40; 
Sunday  school  officers  and  teachers,  16;  schol¬ 
ars.  75  ;  total.  91  ;  average  attendance,  61  ;  num¬ 
ber  of  months  school  is  open,  12;  scholars  in  full 
membership  of  the  church.  63 ;  baptized  scholars. 
69;  scholars  received  into  full  membership  of  the 
church  during  the  year,  14;  contributions  to  all 
purj)oses.  $34. 

*  *  *  * 

THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 

(By  Elder  William  H.'Drummet.) 

The  treasures  of  every  people  are  traced  in 
its  historv.  There  is  an  instinct  if  not  a  tran- 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


scendent  link  that  l)in{Ls  us  irrevocaltly  to  the 
])ast.  Webster  says  that  “tliere  is  a  moral  and 
])hiloso])hical  respect  for  our  ancestors  which 
elevates  the  character  and  improves  the  heart. 
.\ext  to  the  sense  of  reli<Tious  duty  and  moral 
feeling  I  hardly  know  what  should  hear  with 
stronger  obligation  on  a  liberal  and  enlightened 
mind  than  a  consciousness  of  alliance  with  the 
excellencies  of  the  past."  In  no  one  phase  of 
human  activity  can  this  sentiment  he  more  true 
than  in  the  conscious  alliance  with  the  excellence 
of  the  religion  of  our  Lord  and  Master.  This 
alliance  or  the  lack  of  it  enters  into  every  com¬ 
munity  life,  sha])es  its  character  and  determines 
its  destiny. 

True  religi(m  is  of  (lod.  In  fact  we  get  the 
word  "religion"  from  the  word  "ligio,"  which 
means  "to  hind,"  to  bind  hack  again  to  God. 
In  other  words  religion  is  the  link  that  "binds" 
man  to  (lod. 

The  fundamental  princi])les  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  religion  are  found  in  the  Xew  Testament 
revealed  by  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  and 
"confirmed  unto  us  by  them  that  heard  Him.” 
'I’hese  fundamental  principles  (divinely  author¬ 
ized)  made  unprecedented  progress  during  the 
early  centuries :  and  happy  and  fortunate  indeed 
would  it  have  been  for  the  human  race  had  no 
man,  "humanly  wise,"  endeavored  to  bind  man  to 
man  and  man  to  God  above  that  Which  is  Writ¬ 
ten.  This  "humanly  wise"  tendency  of  man  re¬ 
gardless  of  "what  is  written,"  to  radiate  out  into 
self-formulated  theories,  into  philosophic  specula¬ 
tion,  superstition,  skepticism  and  corruption 
ciowded  out  the  light  from  the  word  of  God  and 
brought  the  Dark  Ages.  The  Dark  Age  will 
come  into  the  life  of  any  individual  or  nation 
when  it  shall  supercede  the  Word  of  God,  the 
"salt  of  the  earth"  and  "the  light  of  the  world" 
with  the  theories,  philosophies  and  speculations 


of  men.  The  (.me  is  of  (lod,  the  other  is  "of  the 
earth,  earthy.” 

To  eliminate  corruption  and  vice  and  re¬ 
establish  the  spiritual  life  of  the  church  was  the 
attem])t  of  the  Reformation.  Luther’s  efforts 
are  valuable  to  the  world  ;  not  so  much  for  the  re¬ 
forms  which  he  attengited,  as  in  the  restoration 
(jf  the  llible,  the  true  council  and  standard  of 
religion.  The  giving  of  an  open  Ifible  into  the 
hands  of  the  i)coi)le  was  to  the  Dark  .Ages  what 
the  rising  sun  is  to  the  darkness  of  night. 

The  value  of  Calvin’s  effctrt  lies  mjt  in  the 
reforms  he  attempted,  or  in  the  doctrines  he  so 
ably  discussed,  but  in  the  restoring  to  the  \\ Ord 
of  (jod  its  divine  authority  which  had  so  long 
been  usurped  by  the  l’o])e. 

d'he  estimate  to  be  placed  on  the  Wesley 
movement  is  not  in  the  attempt  to,  reform  the 
Church  of  England,  for  that  in  itself  was  a  fail¬ 
ure,  but  its  value  lies  in  what  they  restored  of 
primitive  iriety,  zeal  and  devotion.  This  will 
live  to  bless  humanity  long  after  the  creed  that 
thought  to  formulate  them  shall  have  jrassed 
away  forever. 

Every  attemiit  at  reform  proved  a  failure,  in 
whole  or  in  jrart.  While  it  restored  at  times 
scjinewhat  of  faith  and  life,  it  failed  in  the  refor¬ 
mation  attemjrted,  and  every  effort  to  formulate 
into  a  creed  the  things  in  which  the  reformation 
failed,  but  added  to  the  divisions  of  Christendom. 
Thus  while  the  Reformation  was  striking  blow 
after  blow  at  corruption  and  vice  it  multiplied 
divisions  and  strife. 

The  one  peculiar  thing  about  the  Christian 
religion  that  nmst  not  be  forgotten  is  that  while 
it  is  a  great  reformer,  it  can  not  itself  be  re¬ 
formed.  Every  addition  or  subtraction  but 
cumbers  or  weakens  and  divests  of  Divine  au¬ 
thority.  It  becomes  the  duty  then  of  every 
Christ  and  His  inspired  Apostles.  All  this  re¬ 
life  and  faith  as  they  come  from  the  lips  of 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Christ  and  His  inspired  Apostles.  .All  this  re¬ 
mained  for  some  one  to  see.  to  hold  sacred  and 
to  proclaim  to  all  the  world. 

The  divisons  and  isms  and  cisms  and  here¬ 
sies  and  jealousies  at  the  beginning-  of  the  19th 
century,  a  resultant  of  the  corru])tion  of  the 
church,  and  the  attempted  reformation  set  men  to 
thinking  and  searching  of  the  scrijitures  to  see 
if  these  things  e.xisted  with  divine  approval. 
They  soon  learned  from  the  scriptures  and  found 
from  e.xperience  that  ‘‘.A  House  divided  against 
itself  can  not  stand  that  the  Master  prayed  for 
Cnion.  that  the  inspired  .Apostles  to  the  (lentiles 
rebukes  the  division  in  the  church  and  that  there 
is  "one  I’ody.  one  Lord,  one  Faith,  one  Spirit, 
one  bajitism.  These  and  many  other  similar 
truths  constantly  kejit  ringing  in  the  cars  of 
llible  readers.  Soon  they  began  to  teach  and 
proclaim  them.  To  steer  clear  of  all  the  errors 
that  had  crei)t  into  the  church  they  said,  "we 
will  go  back  of  all  creeds  and  confessions  and 
councils  into  the  llible.  the  Divinely  authorized 
standard.  Where  it  speaks  we  will  s])eak.  and 
where  it  is  silent  we  are  silent." 

They  thought  to  go  back  to  the  X.  T. 
church,  its  ordinances,  its  life  and  jiractice  in 
order  to  bring  about  Christian  union,  the  one 
thing  needful.  Ci)on  the  Divine  basis  and  under 
Divine  .Autbority  their  prayers  and  pleading 
began  to  be  "back  to  Christ." 

Prominent  among  those  who  had  learned  the 
lesson  of  the  Reformation  and  saw  the  need  of 
Christendom  were  the  Campbells.  Stone.  Scott, 
and  others — men  of  learning  and  great  piety. 
Simultaneously  this  movement  sprang  up  in 
Pennsylvania.  Kentucky  and  \’irginia.  Who 
first  inaugurated  the  movement  no  one  knows. 
It  seems  as  if  the  Spirit  of  God  was  brooding 
over  the  virgin  soil  of  the  Xew  \\  orld.  and  the 
movement  was  born  out  of  the  chaotic  condi¬ 
tions  of  Christendom.  \\'ith  remarkable  unanim¬ 


ity  came  the  cry  from  every  cpiarter.  "P>ack 
to  Christ."  Christan  union  on  the  Ilible."  "The 
Ilible  the  only  hope  of  Christendom."  The  one 
cherished  jewel  was  now  placed  in  the  Divine 
setting  which  alone  could  give  it  vitality  and 
life. 

1  he  movement  spread  like  "wild-lire 
every  opposition  only  added  fuel  to  the  dames 
destined  to  burn  iij)  the  "hay  and  stubble" — the 
divisions  and  isms  of  Christendom.  Ministers 
and  laymen  alike  who  were  in  travail  by  reason 
of  the  divided  state  of  things  heartily  entered 
into  the  movement  and  looked  upon  it  as  the  one 
balm  to  beal  the  broken  body. 

So  rapid  has  been  this  movement  that  to¬ 
day.  less  than  80  years  froiii  its  inception,  the 
disciples  number  nearly  one  and  a  half  million 
with  no  creed  but  the  Ilible.  united  in  one  great 
family  under  the  one  I^ord  ;  wearing  no  names 
but  those  divinely  recognized  in  the  W  ord. 
W  hat  a  powerful  demonstration  of  their  plea.  In 
nearly  every  state  in  the  Cnion  and  in  every 
country  on  the  globe  the  seed  is  being  sown  and 
the  leaven  is  working.  Shall  we  not  hope  and 
pray  for  the  glorious  consummation  when  the 
prayer  of  our  Lord  shall  be  answered  and  the 
church  shall  be  united  to  go  forth  in  one  solid 
phalanx  to  take  the  world  for  Christ? 

W  e  have  dwelt  at  some  length  upon  the 
history  of  this  movement,  for  the  reason  that 
its  history  practically  enters  into  the  history  of 
every  “Christian  church”  organization.  We  shall 
now  endeavor  to  speak  more  particularly  of  this 
movement  in  Shelbyville  and  Shelby  county. 

SHELBY  COUXTV. 

In  1832  down  the  famous  Kaskaskia  came 
the  venerable  elder.  John  Storms,  scattering  the 
seeds  of  the  new  movement.  He  was  soon  joined 
by  Elder  Tobias  Grider,  and.  in  1830.  by  Elder 


185 


HIS  TORJC  SKE  TCH. 


r>.  A\'.  Henry.  From  this  trio  of  venerable  work¬ 
ers  goes  forth  and  dates  the  l>eginning  of  tlie 
Cliristian  movement  in  Shelhy  and  adjoining 
counties.  So  inseperately  is  tlieir  labor  of  sacri¬ 
fice  and  devotion  connected  with  nearly  every 
organization  in  the  county  that  to  give  an  ade- 
(juate  history  of  the  church  in  the  county  we 
must  write  a  biography  of  each  of  these  faithful 
followers  of  the  Lord.  Ikit  space  forbids  and  we 
must  content  ourselves  with  a  few  brief  state¬ 
ments  of  the  work  in  each  place.  Suffice  it  to 
say  that  the  names  of  these  men  are  household 
words,  and  their  devotion  and  loyalty  to  the 
Master  ought  to  be  an  ins])iration  to  the  on-com¬ 
ing  generation. 

SHELr.VNILLE. 

In  1830  lUishrod  \\'.  Henry  moved  to  the 
county  and  began  preaching  for  the  I>ai)tists. 
In  1832  he  organized  the  “First  Laptist  Church 
of  Christ.”  He  soon  found  himself  in  harmony 
with  the  new  movement.  In  1836  the  pastor 
and  congregation  met  and  resolved  to  strike  the 
w(jrd  "Laptist”  from  the  style  of  the  church,  and 
the  body  was  ever  afterward  known  as  the 
“Church  of  Christ"  in  Shelbyville.  They  pro¬ 
ceeded  at  once  to  ef¥ect  the  new  organization  by 
the  selecting  and  setting  a])art  as  elders,  !>.  \\'. 
Henry  and  J.  J.  Page. 

Next  to  Elder  Henry,  who  remained  as  the 
faithful  and  zealous  shepherd  of  the  flock  for  12 
years,  stood  Elder  Page,  who  remained  elder  for 
35  years.  Truly  the  work  of  the  church  never 
fell  into  more  willing  hands  nor  devoted  heart 
than  during  his  eldership. 

.\mong  the  charter  members  of  blessed 
memory  may  be  mentioned  Reuben  and  Martha 
Wright,  Mrs.  Enfield  Tackett,  Aunt  Polly 
Smith,  IMr.  Wright,  father  of  the  large  Wright 
family,  who  died  within  a  year  after  the  organiza¬ 


tion,  leaving  his  faithful  and  devoted  wife, 
Martha,  to  look  after  the  temi)oral  and  sjjiritual 
interests  of  her  children. 

Few  women  have  been  more  devoted  than 
she,  and  in  1875  she  died  in  the  triumphs  of  her 
living  faith.  Sister  Tackett  was  the  worthy 
Christian  mother  of  our  townsmen  and  fellow- 
citizens,  Messrs.  John  .\.  and  William  Tackett. 
She  often  ])repared  her  own  house  for  the  meet¬ 
ings  of  the  little  hand  of  disci])les.  She  worthily 
stood  for  and  su])])orted  the  work  until  her  death. 
.Aunt  “Polly"  Smith  had  learned  of  the  new 
movement  from  Elders  Rodgers  and  Stone  in 
Kentuckv.  She  remained  a  faithful  and  devoted 
hel))er  until  the  end  came  in  January,  1880. 

During  the  early  days  their  meetings  were 
held  in  the  homes,  the  school  house  and  some¬ 
times  in  the  old  court  house.  In  1843  Kkler 
.\lc\’ey,  from  Indiana,  held  a  meeting  for  them 
which  greatly  strengthened  them  and  resulted  in 
the  building  of  a  “meeting  house"  diagonally 
across  from  their  irresent  building.  In  this  house 
thev  met  to  >vorshi])  for  more  than  20  years. 
Many  splendid  meetings  were  held.  In  1848 
Elder  A.  I).  Xorthcott,  of  Kentucky,  was  em- 
])loyed  as  County  Evangelist.  More  than  300 
])ersons  were  added  to  the  church  that  year.  The 
next  year  he  labored  successfully  for  the  church 
in  Shelbyville. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Wm.  Prown  and 
Elder  Lewis  of  the  M.  E.  church  held  their 
friendly  discussion  in  the  Christan  church  in 
which  General  Thornton  was  chairnran.  As  a 
result  of  this  discussion  many  delusions  and  nris- 
conceptions  were  dispelled  and  the  chrrrch  great¬ 
ly  strengthened. 

In  1865  the  present  large  and  commodious 
brick  edifice  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $15,000,  which 
stands  as  a  monument  to  self-sacrificing  zeal  and 
whole-hearted  devotedness  to  the  cause  of  the 
restoration  of  pure  primitive  Christianity  among 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


the  people.  The  lower  floor  contains  lecture 
room,  study  and  kitchen.  The  auditorium  will 
easily  seat  600  people,  althoug'h  a  thousand  have 
often  been  within  its  walls.  At  present  an  effort 
is  on  foot  to  repair  and  refurnish  the  whole  huild- 
ing. 

The  regular  ministers  who  have  served  as 
])reachers  and  i)astors  to  the  congregation  are  as 
follows:  Elders  Henry.  Xorthcutt.  Young.  Eth¬ 
ridge.  Bostion.  Gains.  Brinkerhoof.  Kellar.  Har¬ 
ris.  Long.  Lane.  Allen.  Brooks.  Stewart,  W  ag- 
goner.  Brutt.  Edwards.  Bell.  Williams.  Collins. 
Homey.  Slator.  Jewett.  Groves,  and  the  ])resent 
])astor.  Wm.  H.  Drummet. 

The  present  elders,  each  deserving  of  special 
mention,  are  "Uncle"  Mike  Freyharger.  Judge 
Kelley,  Capt.  Turney  and  Samuel  Wright.  The 
deacons  are.  Roberts.  Lumpp,  Stewart,  Eraker, 
Triece.  Bennett,  Klauser,  Storm.  Carr.  Terry,  J. 
1)..  Elias  and  James  E.  Miller. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is 
400;  number  in  Sunday  school  is  150.  with  ().  I’. 
Wright  as  superintendent ;  number  in  C.  E..  50. 
d  he  church  has  had  many  trials  and  has  over¬ 
come  great  difficulties.  She  is  now  in  a  prosper¬ 
ous  condition,  ready  to  enter  in  a  still  larger 
measure  into  the  spreading  of  the  Master's  mes¬ 
sage  and  the  extension  of  His  kingdom.  May 
the  good  Lord  guide  and  direct  their  every 
effort. 

ASH  GROVE. 

formerly  Cochran's  Grove,  south  of  Windsor. 
This  church  was  organized  in  1832  by  Elder 
Storm.  Her  trials  and  success  were  similar  to 
those  of  pioneer  days.  This  church  has  enjoyed 
the  preaching  of  some  of  the  ablest  men  in  the 
r.rotherhood.  The  present  church  was  built  at 
the  cost  of  $2,500.  and  will  seat  600  people.  Her 
l)resent  mendiership  is  over  300.  This  is  a 


wealthy  and  s])lendidly  situated  community,  and 
if  the  liberality  and  zeal  of  her  members  are  equal 
to  her  ability  and  opportunity,  a  much  larger 
\.ork  will  yet  be  accomplished  in  the  name  and 
for  the  honor  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

SAXD  CREEK. 

This  congregation  was  organized  by  Elder 
Storm  in  1834.  The  entire  enrollment  of  the 
church  since  its  organization  has  been  about 
1.000.  Her  members  have  been  the  nucleus  of 
several  other  congregations.  Her  present  mem¬ 
bership  is  100.  Edder  (mider  was  her  regular 
minister  for  44  years,  and  Elder  B.  B.  Warren 
has  been  associated  with  him  for  34  years.  The 
church  has  reared  out  of  its  own  members  the 
following  preachers  :  Isaac  Miller,  Xathan  Rice, 
B.  B.  Warren.  H.  Loomis  and  L.  B.  B.  Bhil- 
lips.  The  most  familiar  among  these  is  Elder 
Warren,  who  is  still  a  veteran  of  the  cross 
among  the  country  churches  of  Shelby  county. 

The  present  brick  building  was  erected  in 
1874.  at  a  cost  of  $1,200  and  seats  30a  people. 
This  church  has  remarkably  withstood  the 
changes  of  time,  and  if  she  is  true  to  her  Master 
a  much  larger  extension  of  the  kingdom  is  pos¬ 
sible. 

WIXDSOR. 

This  church  was  organized  some  time  i)rior 
to  1859.  \'ery  few  of  the  charter  members  now 
remain.  Her  present  membership  is  180,  with 
a  tlourishing  Sunday  school  of  100.  and  C.  E. 
societv  of  25  active  and  25  associate  members. 
Their  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1859  at  a 
cost  of  $2,500.  It  will  seat  500  people  and  was 
dedicated  by  Elder  John  S.  Sweeny,  of  Baris. 
Kv.  The  church  has  recently  been  repaired  and 
with  the  new  pastor.  Elder  Herrald.  is  in  a  fair 
way  to  do  a  splendid  work  for  the  Master. 


187 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


ANTlOCJrl. 

Tills  congregation  was  organized  in  i-86o, 
by  Elder  Henry,  with  32  members.  C.  L.  Scott, 
John  and  J.  T.  Jlarrickman  were  selected  as 
elders.  Xathaniel  and  1.  S.  Killam  are  the  pres¬ 
ent  elders.  Their  present  membershi])  is  about 
150,  and  they  have  a  nourishing  L’nion  Sunday 
school.  Their  present  house  of  worship  was 
erected  in  1868  at  a  cost  of  $2,400.  This  com¬ 
munity  is  blessed  with  a  rich  and  fertile  soil  and 
the  church  has  a  splendid  opportunity  to  enrich 
and  enlarge  the  kingdom  of  the  Master. 

r.ETILXXY. 

In  i860  Elders  (mider  and  Warren  held  a 

meeting  in  a  school  house  where  the  Sethany 

church  now  stands,  in  Windsor  township.  Many 

hearing  and  believing,  were  baptized,  but  took 

membership  with  the  Sand  Creek  church  until 

1871,  when  P.  P.  Warren  organized  the  jiresent 

congregation  with  53  members.  Elder  Warren 

has  preached  once  a  month  for  the  church  most 

of  the  time  since  its  organization.  The  house  of 

worship  was  built  in  1871,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  and 

seats  300  people.  The  church  has  reared  many 

\oung  men  and  women  to  useful  service  in  the 
.  .  '  ■ 

Master's  kingdom. 

WELP.ORN  CREEK. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  i860, 
by  Elder  John  Sconce,  in  a  log  school  house  near 
the  northeast  corner  of  Todd's  Point  township, 
with  58  members.  In  1871  they  erected  their 
present  house  of  worship  at  a  cost  of  $1,200. 
The  membership  has  been  very  much  scatterei! 
and  discouraged  at  times,  but  they  have  rallied 
again  and  again,  and  now  have  a  membership 
of  over  100,  and  are  in  a  fair  way  to  do  a  good 
work. 


NEW  EIP.ERTY. 

Sixty  years  ago  a  little  log  house  with  two 
chimneys  and  no  floor  was  erected  as  a  place  of 
worship  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Windsor 
township.  In  1871  a  congregation  was  organized 
and  in  1874  erected  a  new  house  of  worship,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,180.  The  church  was  then  called  Xew 
Liberty.  Most  of  the  veteran  ministers  of  the 
county  have,  at  different  times,  jireached  for  the 
church.  The  present  membershi])  is  over  lOO. 

CXIOX,  OR  ••DLTLOL'T." 

'I'liis  congregation  was  organized  in  the 
Ililden  school  house  on  the  line  of  ( )kaw  and 
Shelby  townshijis,  by  Elder  (Lider,  in  1873,  with 
14  members.  Their  jiresent  membership  is  about 
60.  Elder  Warren  and  Elder  Gray  have  each 
been  ])reaching  for  the^  church  once  a  month. 
They  have  a  flourishing  Union  Sunday  school 
and  are  in  a  fair  way  to  do  a  siilendid  work  in 
this  community. 

ROCKY  BRANCH. 

In  Rose  township  some  50  years  ago  Elders 
Henry,  Chew  and  Evey  held  meetings;  some¬ 
times  in  the  homes,  then  in  the  groves  and  at 
times  in  Black  Log  school  house.  The  present 
organization  grew  out  of  a  meeting  held  by  Elder 
Henry  in  which  there  were  over  50  conversions. 
The  congregation  now  has  a  neat  little  house  of 
worship,  and  Elder  Henry,  son  of  the  late 
“Father”  Henry,  is  its  present  minister. 

ZIOX. 

This  congregation  was  organized  by  Elders 
Gilbert  and  Waggoner,  in  1878,  with  32  charter 
members,  in  the  west  side  of  Todd's  Point  town¬ 
ship.  In  October  of  the  same  year  their  new 
house  of  worship,  costing  $1,200  was  dedicated 


188 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


by  Elder  J.  G.  \\'aggoner.  May  the  Lord  direct  - 
their  future  efforts. 

0.\K  GRO\  E. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  1880. 
hy  Elder  Linn,  with  36  menihers.  The  church 
huilding  is  a  Union  house  of  worship.  At 
present  the  Christian  people  are  the  only  ones 
holding  services.  Meetings  have  been  held  hy 
Elders  Jewett,  Groves  and  the  writer,  that  have 
added  materially  to  the  working  force.  Their 
present  memhership  is  about  50  persons.  May 
the  good  Lord  guide  them  in  wisdoni's  ways  and 
use  them  for  the  spiritual  enlargement  of  the 
community. 

MODE. 

This  congregation  was  organized  by  Elder 
Linn,  who  labored  under  the  Co-oi)erative  asso¬ 
ciation  of  the  county.  In  1880  he  held  a  meet¬ 
ing  with  50  additions  resulting.  L'nion  house 
of  worshi])  has  been  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,800, 
and  they  have  a  good  Sunday  school.  Have 
recently  held  a  good  meeting  and  are  in  good 
shape  for  a  splendid  work  in  this  community. 

PRAIRIE  BIRD. 

This  congregation  was  organized  by  Elder 
P).  W'.  Henry,  in  1850,  with  23  members.  In 
1857  they  built  a  neat  little  house  of  worship  at 
a  cost  of  $1,500.  The  next  year  “Eather” 
Henry’s  son,  J.  ().  Henry,  was  ordained  to  the 
miinstry  and  has  done  much  to  maintain  and 
strengthen  the  efficient  efforts  of  his  father. 
Their  present  membership  is  about  too.  Part  of 
their  membership  has  recently  moved  to  Tower 
Hill,  thus  forming  the  nucleus  for  a  congrega¬ 
tion  there. 

TOWER  HILL. 

This  congregation  was  organized  bv  Elder 


W.  H.  Bales,  in  ( )ctober,  1896,  with  55  mem¬ 
bers.  In  January  of  tbe  next  year  be  held 
another  meeting,  with  73  additions.  He  was  fol¬ 
lowed  by  Elders  Doughty.  Hostettler,  Williams 
and  Henry.  The  writer  recently  held  a  meeting 
for  them,  resulting  in  45  additions.  They  have 
a  splendid  church  edifice  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$2,000.  They  have  a  splendid  Sunday  school  of 
70.  and  C.  E.  society  of  30  members.  The  present 
elders  are  J.  T.  and  \\  .  E.  Killam  and  Charles 
Smith.  They  are  in  good  condition  and  the  field 
is  ripe  for  a  larger  work. 

M(  fWEAOUA. 

There  is  a  strong  organization  here.  Elder 
A.  R.  Spicer,  while  yet  in  college,  gathered  to¬ 
gether  a  few  disciples  and  i)reachcd  for  them 
every  two  weeks.  Eour  years  ago  Elder  J.  P. 
Lichtenberger,  then  of  Canton,  held  a  meeting 
with  137  additions.  Since  then  Elders  Spicer 
and  Golden  have  served  the  congregation.  Thev 
have  erected  a  splendid  brick  tabernacle.  Tbeir 
])iescnt  membership  is  268.  with  60  in  the  Sun¬ 
day  school,  with  a  Senior  C.  E.  society  of  33.  and 
a  Junior  society  of  30  members.  They  are  in  a 
good  way  to  do  a  splendid  work  for  the  Master. 

COWDEX. 

This  congregation  was  organized  some  three 
or  four  years  ago.  They  have  recently  dedicated  a 
s])lendid  new  church  edifice.  In  January,  of  this 
year  ( 1901 ).  Elder  Brown,  under  the  co-operation 
of  the  District  Board,  held  a  meeting  for  them, 
resulting  in  36  additons,  making  their  total  mem¬ 
bership  no.  Hattie  Montgomery  is  the  church 
correspondent,  and  Elder  Brown,  son  of  Evange¬ 
list  Leland  T.  Brown,  is  their  present  preacher. 
We  look  for  a  larger  and  more  aggressive  work 
for  the  Master. 

STEWARDSOX. 

This  congregation  was  organized  some  15 
or  18  years  ago.  They  have  a  splendid  brick 


189 


HIS  TORIC  SKE  TCH. 


house  of  worship.  Their  i^resent  membership  is 
42,  witli  a  flourishing  Sunday  sehool  of  113. 
Elmer  Shumard.is  the  corresponding  member, 
and  Elder  Zerr  is  the  present  minister. 

EAN'CHER. 

This  congregation  was  organized  a  few 
vears  ago.  'I'lieir  present  membersliip  is  70, 
with  48  in  the  Sunday  school.  This  ought  to  be 
l)ut  the  beginning  of  a  mucli  larger  work  for  the 
Master. 

HOEEIDAY. 

'I'liere  is  l)ut  a  small  congregation  here, 
numbering  at  present  but  25,  witli  25  in  the  Sun¬ 
day  school.  The  work  liere  is  new  and  we  shall 
soon  look  for  larger  results  for  the  Master.  E).  C. 
Kilev  is  the  corresponding  member. 

HER  RICK. 

This  congregation,  together  witli  several 
others  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  has 
been  Imt  recently  organized  and  is  not  very 
strong.  Herrick  has  a  church  building  and  a 
jiresent  memliershi])  of  64,  and  65  in  the  Rible 
school.  Thomas  Brewer  is  the  corresponding 
member.  The  southern  portion  of  the  county  is 
not  blessed  with  a  rich  soil,  but  God  can  even 
make  this  to  abound  in  the  riches  of  His  grace. 


It  will  thus  lie  seen  that  there  are  scattered 
over  the  county  nearly  2,000  disciples,  with  21 
church  organizations,  and  19  houses  of  worship, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $50,000,  all  of  which  stand 
as  monuments  to  the  loyalty,  sacrifice,  and  de¬ 
votion  of  those  who  stand  for  the  restoration  of 


primitive  Christianity  and  the  union  of  all  of 
God’s  people. 

*  *  *  * 

AERICAX  METHODEST  ElMSCOl’AL. 

The  organization  of  a  society  of  the  African 
M.  E.  church,  of  which  there  is  but  one  in  the 
county,  and  that  one  in  Sheltiyville,  was  effected 
by  A.  S.  Williams  in  the  summer  of  1875.  The 
families  then  residing  here  whose  affiliations 
would  naturally  be  with  that  church,  were  those 
of  Mr.  Williams  himself,  Henry  Lee,  R.  Jones, 

R.  Hunt,  M.  Lewis,  Mrs.  Casse,  Tom  I’osten, 
Wesley  McCann  and  B.  Huston. 

When  the  needs  and  circumstances  seemed 
to  warrant  it,  Mr  .Williams  sent  for  the  Rev.  }klr. 
Hand,  pastor  of  the  Mattoon  A.  M.  E.  church, 
who,  upon  his  arrival,  called  together  the  follow¬ 
ing  named  people:  Mrs.  Cassey,  Mrs.  Haines, 
Mrs.  Johnson,  J.  Hardy  and  R.  Robertson.  The 
first  meeting  was  held  in  the  old  court  house, 
and  these  meetings  were  continued  in  various 
places  until  1885.  In  this  year  the  members  of 
this  society  set  to  work  to  build  a  church  edifice 
of  their  own,  in  which  they  could  feel  that  they 
were  indeed  at  home.  Many  of  the  white  citi¬ 
zens  of  Shelbyville  co-operated  with  them,  and 
kindly  told  them  not  to  go  outside  of  the  city  to 
secure  money,  as  all  that  would  be  necessary 
would  be  forthcoming  here.  After  building  the 
church  they  were  also  enabled  to  build  a  par¬ 
sonage  for  the  pastor. 

This  little  band  of  valiant  Christian  workers 
has  been  zealously  doing  its  part  toward  the 
evangelization  of  the  city,  and  the  support  of  the 
cause  of  Christ.  The  present  membership  is  18, 
with  a  good  Sabbath  school  of  24  members.  A. 

S.  Williams  is  the  efficient  Sunday  school  super¬ 
intendent.  while  Rev.  C.  H.  Jackson  is  the  popu¬ 
lar  pastor. 


190 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


METHODIST  El’lSCOl'AL. 

(By  Dr.  H.  H.  Oneal.) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  the 
])ioneer  chnrcli  in  Shelby  county.  Indeed,  before 
tlie  county  was  organized  the  Methodist  itiner¬ 
ant  was  on  the  ground,  hunting  the  far  scat¬ 
tered  inhal)itants.  gathering  them  together  as 
best  he  could,  and  preaching  to  them  the  Word 
of  Life. 

In  1825.  when  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Iowa 
were  all  one  conference,  the  Rev.  Josejdi  Eoulks 
of  the  Shoal  Creek  circuit,  came  to  Cold  Spring 
and  preached  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Sallie  Turner, 
on  Robinson  Creek.  Joseph  Eoulks  was  followed 
by  Thomas  Randle,  Samuel  H.  Thompson,  Win. 
L.  Deneaue,  Lorenzo  Edwards  and  Milo 
Huffaker.  The  preachers  went  everywhere, 
without  waiting  to  be  invited.  Their  work  was 
arduous,  often  without  any  compensation,  but  it 
was  faithfully  discharged. 

The  cause  grew  rapidly.  Little  societies 
were  formed.  Sunday  schools  organized,  and 
])reaching  maintained,  wherever  a  few  peo])le 
could  be  brought  together. 

In  1830  a  house  of  worship  was  begun  on 
what  is  now  North  Morgan  street.  Shelbyville ; 
this  was  probably  the  first  church  building 
erected  in  the  county.  Societies  were  formed 
at  Shelby  Cha])el.  St.  Mary's.  Sanner's,  Mt.  Car¬ 
mel.  Pleasant  Grove,  Sulphur  Springs,  Mowea- 
(|ua  and  Stewardson.  at  an  early  day. 

In  1857  we  find  Shelbyville  circuit,  with 
Hiram  Buck,  presiding  elder.  J.  S.  Barger  and 
W.  ^I.  McX'ey  preachers,  and  312  members: 
also  Moweaqua,  with  Wm.  S.  Prentice,  presiding 
elder,  J.  W.  Smnock,  preacher  in  charge,  and 
200  members. 

In  1858  Shelbyville  was  separated  from 
Shelbyville  circuit,  and  organized  as  a  station, 
with  Rev.  1).  Bardrick  as  preacher  in  charge. 


and  73  members.  That  year  Windsor  circuit  was 
formed,  with  J.  B.  Reynolds  as  pastor,  J.  W. 
.\neals  was  sent  to  Shelbyville  circuit,  and  J. 

W.  Sinnock  continued  at  Moweacpia. 

In  1859  G.  R.  L.  McElfresh.  still  living  and 
an  honored  member  of  Illinois  conference,  be¬ 
came  preacher  in  charge.  This  year  one  ])erson 
was  expelled  from  the  church  for  <lancing.  and 
another  for  Sal)bath  breaking. 

In  i860  Alexander  Sem])le  became  i>astor  of 
the  Shelbyville  church,  with  a  mcmbershii)  of 
8(y  During  the  year  C.  C.  Scovil  offered  $500  to 
be  used  in  building  a  new  church  to  cost  $3,000. 

In  1861  R.  W.  Travis,  presiding  elder,  and 
R.  Holding,  was  |)reacher  in  charge.  The  mem¬ 
bership  of  the  church  had  grown  to  123  and  36 
probationers.  Mr.  Holding  was  re-appointed  in 
1862,  but  resigned  during  the  year  to  become  a 
chaplain  in  the  army.  The  unex])ired  ytar  was 
supplied  by  A.  C.  \'andewater. 

In  1863  S.  S.  McGinnis  was  apjiointed  to 
Shelbyville.  and  re-api)ointcd  in  1864. 

In  1863  .Mien  Buckner  became  presiding 
elder,  and  W.  X.  MclClroy.  now  presiding  elder 
of  Jacksonville  district,  became  jiastor  of  Shelby¬ 
ville  church,  and  remained  two  years.  These 
were  vears  of  ])rosperity  for  the  church.  .X  two- 
storv  brick  church  was  built  on  Main  street,  and 
the  membership  was  increased  to  iqo. 

From  1867  to  1876  the  following  pastors 
were  in  charge  of  Shelbyville  church,  viz.:  John 
B.  Ford,  two  years:  Wm.  Reed,  one  year:  R. 

X.  Davies,  three  vears:  Alexander  Semple  re¬ 
turned  for  a  second  term  and  remained  two 
years.  In  1873  Wm.  Stevenson  became  pastor 
and  remained  three  years.  The  following  table, 
beginning  with  the  second  year  of  Mr.  Steven¬ 
son's  pastorate,  and  ending  with  the  present 
date,  gives  a  bird's  eye  view  of  the  growth  of  the 
church  in  the  county  for  the  last  twenty-five 
vears  : 


HIS  TORJC  ,SKli  TCH. 


1876 —  Shelbyville — I'irst  church,  R.  X. 
Davies,  i)resi(lin"  elder;  W'ni.  Stevenson,  pastor; 
nnniber  of  menil)ers,  314;  number  of  chnrclies, 

I  ;  value  of  church  property,  (including-  i)arson- 
ages),  $18,000;  number  of  Sunday  schools,  1; 
number  of  scholars  in  Sunday  schools,  324. 

Circuit — R.  X.  Davies,  ])res.-eld.;  A.  Pottle, 
])astor ;  members,  161;  churches,  3;  proi)erty, 
$8,000 ;  schools,  3  ;  scholars,  236. 

South  Shelbyville — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.; 
1).  C.  Purkitt,  pastor;  members,  294;  churches, 
4;  property,  $5,850;  schools,  4;  scholars,  222. 

Tower  Hill — R.  X.  Davies,  ])res.  eld.;  D.  II. 
Stubblefield,  i)astor ;  members,  253;  churches,  6; 
pro])erty,  $7,600;  .schot)ls,  5  ;  scholars,  430. 

W'ind.sor — R.  X.  Davies,  i)res.  eld.;  \\’.  C. 
Lacey,  pastor;  mend)er.s,  200;  churches,  3; 
(property,  $4,200;  schools,  i  ;  scholars,  170. 

Moweaejua — Hiram  Puck,  pres,  eld.;  Win. 
Alurjiliy,  ])astor  ;  members,  125;  churches, —  ; 
])ro])erty,  $8,000;  schools,  1  ;  scholars,  120. 

( )conee — Hiram  Puck,  jires.  eld.;  E.  ('lol- 
lagher,  jiastor. 

1877 —  Shelbyville — First  church,  R.  X. 
Davies,  presiding  elder;  W’m.  Steven.son,  jiastor ; 
number  of  members,  315;  number  of  churches, 
1  ;  value  of  church  property,  (including  jiarson- 
ages),  $15,000;  number  of  Sunday  schools,  1; 
number  of  Sunday  school  scholars,  252. 

Circuit — R.  X.  Davies,  jires.  eld.;  W'.  F. 
Shoemaker,  pastor;  members,  139;  churches,  3; 
(property,  $8,000;  schools,  4;  scholars,  265. 

South  Shelbyville- — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.; 
1).  C.  Purkitt,  pastor;  members,  233;  churches, 
5  ;  property,  $6,000 ;  schools,  4 ;  scholars,  242. 

Tower  Hill — R.  X.  Davies,  pres.  eld. ;  F.  S. 
W’amsley,  pastor;  members,  263;  churches,  6; 
])roperty,  $8,500;  schools,  4;  scholars,  303. 

Windsor — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.;  J.  W. 
Crane,  pastor;  members  325;  churches,  4;  jirop- 
erty,  $6,800. 


Moweaipia — Hiram  Puck,  pres,  eld.;  Wm. 
Murjihy,  ])astor ;  members,  137;  churches,  1; 
])ro])erty,  $8,300;  schools,  2;  scholars,  251. 

Oconee — Hiram  Puck,  jires.  eld.;  F.  (joI- 
laghcr,  pastor ;  members,  235  ;  churches,  3  ;  prop¬ 
erty,  $4,000 ;  schools,  5  ;  scholars,  368. 

Cowden  circuit — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.; 
W.  H.  (lanaway,  pastor. 

1878 —  Shelbyville — R.  X.  Davies,  jiresiding 
elder;  J.  L.  Crane,  jiastor;  number  of  members, 
305  ;  number  of  churches,  1  ;  value  of  church 
jiroperty.  (including  parsonages),  $14,000;  num¬ 
ber  of  Sunday  schools,  1  ;  number  of  Sunday 
school  scholars,  302. 

Circuit — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.;  .\.  Y. 
Craham,  pastor ;  members,  160;  churches,  3  ; 
property,  $3,000;  schools,  4;  scholars,  293. 

Moulton — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.;  C. 
(laleener,  pastor. 

South  Shelbyville — R.  X.  Davies,  jires.  eld.; 
\V.  F.  Shoemaker,  pastor ;  members,  225 ; 
churches,  3;  jirojierty,  $6,000;  schools,  4; 
scholars,  273. 

Tower  Hill — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.;  M. 
P.  McFadden,  pastor;  members,  184;  churches, 
4  ;  property,  $3,000 ;  schools,  4 ;  scholars,  230. 

Cowden — R.  X.  Davies,  jires.  eld.;  W^  H. 
Canaway,  pastor;  members,  152;  churches,  2; 
(iroperty,  $2,800;  schools,  i  ;  scholars,  110. 

Windsor — R.  X.  Davies,  ])res.  eld.;  J.  W. 
Crane,  pastor ;  members,  275  ;  churches.  4 ;  prop- 
ertv,  $4,000 ;  schools,  3  ;  scholars,  242. 

Moweaqua — Hiram  Puck,  pres.  eld. ;  D.  E. 
Mav,  pastor;  members,  160;  churches,  i  ;  jirop- 
erty,  $8,300;  schools,  3;  scholars,  198. 

Oconee — Hiram  Puck,  pres.  eld. ;  P.  F.  Gay, 
])astor;  members,  260;  churches,  3;  property, 
$4,000;  schools,  5;  scholars,  320. 

1879 —  Shelbyville — David  Gay,  presiding 
elder ;  G.  Wh  English,  pastor ;  number  of  mem¬ 
bers,  300;  number  of  churches,  i  ;  value  of 


192 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


church  property,  (including’  parsonages),  S8,ooo : 
number  of  Sunday  schools,  i  :  nund)er  of  Sun¬ 
day  school  scholars,  234. 

Moulton — David  Gay,  ])res.  eld.;  C.  Ga- 
leener,  pastor :  members,  82 ;  churches,  i  ;  prop¬ 
erty,  $3,000;  schools,  I  :  scholars,  157, 

Cowden — David  Gay,  pres,  eld.;  H. 
Rusk,  pastor:  members,  171  :  churches,  2:  ])rop- 
erty,  $3,150;  schools,  2;  scholars,  1 18. 

Tower  Hill — David  Gay,  ])res.  eld.;  M.  1'. 
McFadden,  jiastor ;  members.  210:  churches.  4: 
jiroperty,  $4,450:  schools,  3;  scholars.  130. 

Stewardson — David  Gay,  ])res.  eld.;  \\’.  F. 
Shoemaker,  jiastor. 

Windsor — David  (>ay.  |)res.  eld.;  J.  L.  l’>. 
ICllis,  pastor;  members.  300:  churches,  4;  pro])- 
eity,  $5,000:  schools.  1  :  scholars.  i6(y 

Moweaipta — Hiram  Iluck  iires.  eld.:  [.  15. 
Colwell,  pastor ;  members,  165;  churches.  1: 
])ro])erty.  $8.300 :  schools,  3 ;  scholars.  204. 

Oconee — Hiram  Buck.  pres,  eld.;  P.  F.fiay. 
])astor ;  members,  216;  churches,  2;  iirojierty. 
$2,600;  schools,  3;  scholars,  351. 

1880 — Shelby  ville— David  (lay  jiresiding 
elder;  1).  W.  English,  pastor;  number  of  mem¬ 
bers,  300;  number  of  churches.  1  :  value  of 
church  ])roperty,  $8.coo ;  number  of  Sunday 
schools.  I  :  number  of  Sunday  school  scholars, 

323- 

Circuit — David  Gay,  pres,  eld.:  su])plied, 
pastor. 

Moulton — David  Gay,  pres.  eld. :  W  .  R. 
Howard,  ])astor;  members,  109;  churches,  i: 
])roperty,  $3,000;  schools,  i  ;  scholars,  197. 

Steward.son — David  Gay,  pres.  eld. :  E. 
Gollagher.  pastor ;  members,  352 ;  churches.  5 : 
|)ro])erty,  $7,000;  schools,  7;  scholars.  465. 

Tower  Hill — David  Gay,  jmes.  eld.;  A.  B. 
McElfresh,  ])astor ;  members.  214:  churches,  4: 
])roperty.  $4,800  ;  schools,  4  ;  scholars,  244. 

Cowden — David  Gay.  pres,  eld.:  S.  H. 


Huber,  pastor;  members,  160:  churches.  2: 
property.  $3,150:  scIukjIs,  2;  scholars.  143. 

Windsor — David  Gay.  i)res.  eld.:  M.  B. 
McFadden,  pastor;  members.  287;  churches.  4; 
projierty,  $5,000:  schools.  1  :  scholars.  323. 

Moweacpia — R.  X.  Davies.  ])res.  eld.:  J.  B. 
Colwell,  pastor;  members.  175;  churches.  1; 
l)ioperty.  $8,300:  schools.  3;  scholars.  278. 

( )conee — R.  X.  Davies,  ])res.  eld.;  P.  F. 
Ciay,  pastor;  members.  215;  churches.  1  :  prop- 
ertv,  $2,900:  schools.  5:  scholars.  302. 

1881 — Shelbyville — First  church.  David 
Gay,  presiding  elder:  |.  B.  Wolfe,  pastor:  num¬ 
ber  of  mend)ers,  264 :  number  of  churches.  1  : 
value  of  church  proi)erty.  S8.000;  number  of 
Sundav  schools,  i  ;  number  of  Sunday  school 
scholars.  325. 

Moulton — David  Gay,  i)res.  eld.;  C.  (laleen- 
er,  pastor ;  members,  224 :  churches.  3  :  pro])erty, 
$5,000:  schools.  3;  scholars,  268. 

Circuit — David  Gay,  ])res.  eld.:  D.  F.  Howe, 
pastor  ;  jnembers.  154:  churches,  2;  pro])erty, 
$2.000 ;  schools.  2;  scholars.  112. 

Steward.son — David  Gay.  i)res.  eld.:  J.  O. 
Collins,  pastor;  members.  212.  churches.  3 : 
pr()])erty.  $4,500:  schools,  4;  scholars.  242. 

Tower  Hill — David  ('lay.  ])res.  eld.;  .\.  B. 
McElfresh.  ])astor ;  members,  256:  churches. 
4  ;  i)roperty.  $4,800  :  schools.  3  ;  scholars,  230. 

Cowden — David  Gay.  pres,  eld.;  M.  F. 
■Ault,  pastor;  members,  146;  churches.  2;  ])ro])- 
erty.  $3,200;  schools,  3;  scholars.  209. 

Windsor — David  Gay,  pres,  eld.;  M.  B. 
McFadden.  pastor;  members.  256;  churches.  3: 
property,  $3.300 :  schools.  3 ;  scholars.  235. 

Moweacpia — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.; 
Semple,  pastor;  members.  160:  churches,  i: 
projierty.  $8.500 :  schools.  3  ;  scholars.  243. 

( )couee — R.  X.  Davies,  pres,  eld.:  John 
Slater,  pastor,  members.  182;  churches,  2;  prop¬ 
erty,  $2,(400;  schooLs,  4:  scholars.  335. 


193 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


1882 —  Sliclhyville — First  church.  David 
(lav,  ])resi(ling'  elder;  J.  J?.  W'olfe,  pastor;  nuiu- 
her  of  mend)ers,  262 ;  miiuher  of  churches,  i  ; 
value  of  church  ])roi)erty.  $8,000;  number  of 
Sunday  schools,  1  ;  number  of  Sunday  school 
scholars,  325. 

Moulton — David  (lay.  ])res.  eld.;  A.  II. 
(lunnett.  ])astor ;  members,  108;  churches,  1; 
])ro])erty.  $3,000;  schools,  — ;  scholars,  161. 

Circuit — David  Cay.  pres,  eld.;  1).  !•'. 

Howe,  pastor;  members.  208;  churches.  4;  prop¬ 
erty,  $5,000;  schools,  2;  scholars.  112. 

Stewardson — David  Gay.  i)res.  eld.;  J. 
('dick,  pastor;  members,  176;  churches.  4;  i)ro])- 
erty,  $4,650;  schools,  4;  scholars.  230. 

Tower  Ilill — David  (jay,  jjres.  eld.;  11.  '1'. 
Collins,  pastor;  members,  264;  churches,  4; 
])ro])erty,  $4,600;  schools.  3;  scholars.  175  . 

Cowden — David  Cay,  ])res.  eld.;  C.  h'. 
Tobey.  pastor;  members.  136;  churches,  4;  prop¬ 
erty.  $3,300;  schools,  3;  scholars.  225. 

Windsor — David  Cay,  i)res.  eld.;  M.  Ik 
McFadden,  ])astor;  members.  190;  churches,  2; 
])roi)erty,  $5,700;  schools,  2;  scholars.  221. 

.Mowea(|ua — David  Cay,  i)res.  eld.;  A. 
v^emple,  pastor:  members.  148:  churches,  1; 
])roperty,  $8,000;  schools,  i  ;  scholars,  106. 

(  )conee — David  (jay,  ])res.  eld.;  Jno.  Slater, 
l)astor;  members,  186:  churches.  2;  ])roperty, 
$2,800;  schools.  4:  scholars.  340. 

1883 —  Shelby  ville — David  Cay,  ])residinf^ 
elder;  J.  Ik  W'olfe.  pastor.  (Statistics  of  other 
charges  in  the  county  for  this  year  not  available.) 

1884 —  Shelbyville — First  church,  Horace 
Reed,  presiding  elder;  J.  H.  Xoble,  jjastor ;  nuni- 
her  of  members.  310;  number  of  churches.  1  ; 
value  of  church  jjroperty,  $13,000:  number  of 
Sunday  schools.  2 ;  number  of  Sundav  school 
scholars.  315. 

Moulton — Horace  Reed.  pres,  eld.:  .\.  H. 


Cunnett,  ])astor;  members,  170:  churches,  1; 
pro])erty.  $3,900;  schools,  1  ;  scholars,  204. 
Circuit — Horace  Reed.  ])res.  eld. 

Steward.son — Horace  Reed.  i)res.  eld.;  J. 
(jlick.  ])astor;  members,  210;  churches,  4;  proj)- 
erty,  $4.600 ;  schools.  5  ;  scholars.  327. 

Tower  Hill — Horace  Reed.  pres,  eld.;  H.  T. 
Collins.  ])astor:  members,  26)5;  churches,  4; 
property,  $3,600;  sehools,  3;  scholars.  170. 

Cowden — Horace  Reed,  pres,  eld.;  James 
Jeffers,  pastor;  members,  145:  churches,  3; 
Ijroperty,  $3,500;  schools,  3:  scholars,  225.  • 
Windsor — Horace  Reed.  ])res.  eld.;  M.  F. 
K.  Morgan.  ])astor;  members.  131  ;  churches,  i  ; 
pro])erty,  $4,100;  schools,  i  ;  scholars.  175. 

Mowea(|ua — Horace  Reed,  ])res.  eld.;  J.  W. 
Crane,  pastor;  members.  94;  churches,  i  ;  ])rop- 
ertv,  $8,500;  schools.  1  ;  scholars,  107. 

( )conee — Horace  Reed,  ])res.  eld.;  J.  C. 
Lockhart,  ])astor :  members,  138;  churches,  2; 
pro])erty,  $3,600;  schools,  5:  sclujlars,  268. 

1885 —  (Statistics  for  this  year  not  available.) 

1886 —  Shelbyville — First  church,  Horace 
Reed,  presiding  elder:  J.  H.  Xoble.  pastor;  num¬ 
ber  (jf  members,  242 ;  number  of  churches,  i  ; 
value  of  church  ])roi)crty.  $14,000;  number  of 
Sunday  schools.  1  ;  number  of  Sunday  school 
Si  holars.  168. 

Moulton — Horace  Reed,  i)res.  eld.;  C.  M. 
Taylor,  i)astor ;  members.  180:  churches,  t; 
])ro])erty.  $4,000:  schools,  1  ;  Scholars.  197. 
Circuit — Horace  Reed,  pres.  eld. 

Stewardson — Horace  Reed,  ])res.  eld. ;  S. 
W.  I’alck,  pastor:  members.  265;  churches.  5; 
property.  $7,500;  schools.  5;  scholars,  330. 

Tower  Hill — Horace  Reed,  pres,  eld.;  T. 

( ).  Raty,  i)astor;  members.  441;  churches,  5; 
pro])erty,  $5,000;  schools,  5  ;  scholars.  420. 

Cowden — Horace  Reed.  i)res.  eld. ;  Howard 
Miller,  pastor;  members.  180;  churches.  2; 
pro])erty.  $2.000 ;  schools.  3  ;  scholars.  200. 


194 


HIS  TORIC  SHE  TCH. 


Windsor — Horace  Reed,  pres,  eld.;  R.  A. 
Swart,  pastor;  members.  185;  churclies,  5;  prop¬ 
erty.  $6,500;  schools.  5;  scholars,  192. 

Moweacpia — W’.  H.  Wilder,  i)res.  eld. ;  L. 
James,  pastor;  members,  150;  churches.  1  ;  i)ro])- 
erty,  $7,300;  schools,  i  ;  scholars.  1  12. 

Oconee — W.  H.  Wilder,  jmes.  eld.;  .\rthur 
Willard,  i)astor ;  members,  151;  churches,  2 ; 
l)roperty,  $2.600 ;  schools,  3  ;  scholars,  207. 

1887 —  Shelbyville — First  church,  j.  T.  ( )rr, 
])residin5^  elder ;  W.  S.  Hoo])er.  jjastor ;  number 
of  members.  233 ;  number  of  churches.  1  ;  value 
of  church  property,  $11,500;  number  of  Sunday 
schools,  I  ;  nund)er  of  Sunday  school  scholars. 

'75- 

Moulton — J.  T.  ( )rr,  i)res.  eld.;  J.  M.  West, 
pastor;  members.  148;  churches.  1;  \)roperty. 
,83.800;  schools.  1  ;  .scholars.  201. 

Circuit — j.  T.  Orr,  pres.  eld. 

Cowden — J.  T.  ( )rr.  pres.  eld. ;  d'.  1 1.  I'ierce. 
pastor;  members,  99;  churches,  2;  pro])erty, 
$2,000;  schools.  2;  scholars,  122. 

Stewardson — J.  T.  Orr,  ])res.  eld.;  S.  W. 
Malck,  pastor  ;  meud)ers,  330  ;  churches.  5  ;  prop¬ 
erty.  $7,500;  schools,  6;  scholars.  400. 

Tower  Hill — J.  T.  ( )rr,  ])res.  eld.;  1’.  Slagle, 
pastor;  members,  375;  churches.  5;  proi)erty, 
$5,800;  schools,  4;  scholars,  41  i. 

Windsor — J.  T.  ( )rr.  pres,  eld.;  R.  Wil¬ 
liams.  pastor;  members,  205;  churches.  4;  prop¬ 
erty,  $b,  100;  schools,  4;  scholars.  273. 

'1 

Moweacpia — W.  H.  Wilder,  pres,  eld.;  A. 
C.  Armentrout ;  members.  200  ;  churches.  2  : 
property.  $1  1.700;  schools,  2;  scholars.  245. 

( )couee — W.  H.  Wilder,  i)res.  eld.;  J.  A. 
Hardeubrook,  ])astor ;  members.  170;  churches. 
2;  ])roperty,  $2,500;  schools,  3;  scholars,  182. 

1888 —  (Statistics  for  this  year  not  available.) 

1889 —  Shelbyville— First  church.  J.  T.  Orr, 
|)residing  elder  ;  W.  S.  Hooper,  jjastor ;  number 
of  members,  224 ;  number  of  churches,  i  ;  value 


of  church  ])ro])erty.  $1  1.500;  number  of  Sunday 
schools,  I  ;  number  of  Sunday  school  scholars. 
178. 

Moulton — ).  T.  (  )rr,  ])res.  eld.;  T.  L.  Han¬ 
cock.  pastor;  members.  156;  churches.  1  ;  i)ro])- 
erty,  $3,800;  schools,  1  ;  scholars.  211. 

Circuit — |.  '1'.  (  )rr.  pres,  eld.;  K.  M.  Sutton, 
l)astor;  members.  206;  churches.  5;  ])roperty. 
$5,200;  schools.  4;  scholars,  307. 

Cowden — |.  T.  ( )rr,  pres.  eld. ;  R.  T.  Milnes. 
l)astor;  members,  115;  churches.  2;  pro])erty. 
$2.i(K);  schools.  3;  scholars.  222. 

Stewardson — j.  '1'.  (  )rr,  pres,  eld.;  A.  M. 
Campbell,  jiastor  ;  members.  247;  churches.  4; 
property,  $4,100;  schools,  4;  scholars.  2(;5. 

'Power  Hill — J.  'P.  (  )rr.  i)res.  eld.;  I’.  ,81agle. 
pastor;  members.  206;  churches,  3;  proi)erty, 
$3,100;  schools.  3:  scholars.  260. 

Windsor — J.  'P.  (  )rr.  pres,  eld.;  J.  15.  Mar¬ 
tin.  ])astor ;  members,  280;  churches,  4;  ])rop- 
erty.  ^55.600;  schools.  4;  scholars.  215. 

Moweacjua — M.  I).  Hawes.  i)res.  eld.;  A.  C. 
.\rmentrout.  pastor;  members,  239;  churches.  2; 
l)roperty.  $10,300;  schools,  2;  scholars.  289. 

(  )conee — M.  I).  Hawes.  ])res.  eld.;  W  .  W  . 
Sweariuger,  pastor;  members,  163;  churches.  2; 
pro])erty,  $i,yoo;  schools,  4;  scholars,  258. 

1890 — Shelbyville — First  church.  J.  'P.  (  )rr. 
l)residiug  elder;  .\.  'P.  ( )rr,  ])astor  ;  number  of 
members.  236;  uumber  of  churches,  i  ;  value  of 
church  i)roperty.  $12,500;  number  of  Sunday 
schools,  I  ;  number  of  Sunday  .school  scholars. 
'77- 

Moulton — J.  'P.  (  )rr.  ])res.  eld.;  'P.  L.  Han¬ 
cock,  pastor;  members.  164;  churches.  1  ;  ])rop- 
erty,  $3,800;  schools.  1  ;  scholars.  250. 

Circuit — J.  'P.  ( )rr,  pres,  eld.;  J.  W.  Miller. 
l)astor  ;  members.  230  ;  churches.  5  ;  property, 
$5,700;  schools,  5;  scholars,  362. 

Cowden — J.  T.  Orr,  pres,  eld.;  'P.  H.  Tull, 


195 


HISTORIC  ski:  TCI  I. 


pastor;  niem])t'rs.  114;  clnirches,  2;  pro])erty, 
$2,500  ;  schools,  2  ;  scliolars.  1 59. 

Stcwardson,  J.  W.  ( )rr,  ])res.  cld. ;  K.  M. 
Sutton,  i)astor ;  nieiul)ers.  254;  clnirclics,  5 ; 
pro])ert_v.  $4,100:  schools,  3;  scholars,  226. 

'Power  Hill — J.  'P.  (  )rr.  pres,  eld.;  M. 
Cani])l)ell,  pastor;  nienihers.  181;  churches,  3; 
l)ro])erty,  $3,100;  schoeds,  3;  scdiolars.  180. 

Windsor — J.  'P.  ( )rr,  ])res.  eld.;  Jt).  W  ater- 
hury,  ])astor;  lueiuhers,  340;  churches.  5;  pn)p- 
erty,  $6,100;  schools.  5;  scholars,  332. 

.Moweaqua — M.  1).  Hawes,  pres,  eld.;  .\. 
C.  Anuentrout.  ])astor;  lueiuhers,  273,  churches, 
2;  property,  $10,300:  schools.  2;  scholars,  289. 

( )conee — -M.  1).  Hawes  pres,  eld.;  J.  C. 
Chapman,  pastor:  luemhers,  210:  churches.  1; 
pro])erty,  $1,900;  schools,  3:  scholars,  2()5. 

1891 —  Shelhyville — h'irst  church,  J.  'P.  (  )rr, 
presidiuf^  elder;  \\’.  1'.  (lilhuore,  pastor.  (Statis¬ 
tics  of  church  in  the  county  for  this  year,  not 
available.) 

1892 —  Shelhyville — h'irst  church,  J.  'P.  ( )rr, 
])residin!4  elder;  W'.  F.  rdllmore,  pastor;  uuiu- 
ber  of  lueiubers  227 ;  number  of  churches.  1  ; 
value  of  church  ])ro])erty.  $12,500;  number  of 
Sunday  schools,  i  :  number  of  Sunday  school 
scholars.  180. 

Moulton — J.  'P.  ( )rr.  ])res.  eld. ;  E.  K.  Crews, 
pastor  ;  members,  208  ;  churches,  i  ;  pro])erty. 
$4,000 ;  schools,  I  :  scholars,  1 59. 

Circuit — J.  T.  ( )rr,  ])res.  eld.;  J.  Stout, 
])astor :  members,  193:  churches,  5:  projjerty, 
$5,600:  schools.  1  ;  scholars,  170. 

Cowden — J.  T.  Orr,  ])res.  eld.;  - , 

pastor;  members,  126;  churches.  1;  property, 
$1,500;  schools,  1  :  scholars,  160. 

Stewardson — J.  T.  ( )rr,  pres,  eld.;  !M.  E. 
Hobart,  pastor;  members,  276:  churches.  4; 
property.  $4,000:  schools,  2:  scholars,  181. 

Tower  Hill — J.  'P.  Orr,  pres.  eld. :  J.  15.  Mar¬ 
tin,  pastor;  members,  230;  churches.  4:  property. 


$3,600;  schools,  4:  scholars,  305. 

Windsor — J.  T.  Orr,  pres,  eld.;  J.  .\. 
Jlurchitt,  pastor;  members,  100;  churches,  1; 
])roperty.  $3,650;  schools,  i;  scholars.  79. 

Moweatpia — James  Miller,  ])res.  eld.;  T.  I). 
Weems,  pastor :  members.  240;  churches,  i; 
property,  $6,900:  schools.  1  ;  scholars,  167. 

( )couee — -James  Miller,  pres,  eld.;  J.  H. 
Hartrick,  ])astor;  members,  190:  churches,  4; 
property,  $5,200;  schools,  4;  scholars,  286. 

1893 — Shelbyville — h'ir.st  church,  Robert 
Ste])hens,  presidiu}>-  elder;  W.  I-'.  (5illmore.  ])as- 
tor;  number  of  members,  222:  number  of 
churches,  1  :  value  of  church  i)roperty,  $12,500; 
number  of  Sunday  schools,  i  ;  number  of  Sun¬ 
day  school  scholars,  125. 

Moulton — Robert  Stephens,  ])res.  eld.;  h'. 
K.  Crews,  pastor;  members,  180:  churches.  1; 
])roperty,  $4,000;  schools.  1  ;  scholars,  182. 

Circuit — Robert  Stephens,  ])res.  eld.;  J.  (5. 
Jeffers.  ])astor ;  members.  189:  churches,  5; 
property,  $5,500;  schools,  4;  scholars,  142. 

Cowden — Robert  Stephens,  pres,  eld.;  J.  M. 
Cams,  i)astor ;  members,  1  10;  churches,  2;  ])rop- 
erty,  $1,950;  schools,  2;  scholars,  148. 

vSteward.son — Robert  Stephens,  pres.  eld. ; 
M.  IC.  Hobart,  pastor:  members,  216:  churches, 
4;  i)ro])erty.  $4,450;  schools.  3;  scholars,  247.  - 
Tower  Hill — Robert  Stephens,  pres.  cld. ; 
J.  15.  Martin,  pastor;  members,  276:  churches, 
3;  ])ro])erty.  $6,000;  schools,  2;  scholars,  248. 

Windsor — Robert  Stephens,  pres.  eld. :  J.  .A. 
Riurclntt,  i)astor ;  members,  127;  churches,  i; 
pro])erty.  $3,650;  schools,  1  ;  scholars,  116. 

Moweaejua — C.  ('laleener,  pres,  eld.;  H.  C. 
Turner.  ])astor ;  members,  270;  churches,  i; 
|)ro])erty,  $6,000;  schools,  i  ;  scholars.  193. 

( )conee — C.  Calcener,  pres,  cld.;  J.  W. 
Waltz.  i)astor:  members.  200:  churches,  4:  i)rop- 
erty,  $5,400;  schools,  4:  scholars,  286. 

1894 — Shelbyville — h'irst  church.  Robert 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


Stephens,  presiding-  elder;  \\’.  h".  (lillmore,  pas¬ 
tor:  niind)er  of  niemhers,  310:  number  of 
cliurclies,  1  ;  value  of  ehureh  property,  $12,500; 
number  of  Sumlay  sebools,  1  ;  number  of  Sunday 
sehool  seholars,  1 70. 

Moulton — Robert  Stephens,  pres,  eld.:  Iv 

K.  Crews,  ])astor:  members,  221  :  ehurehes.  1  ; 
|)roperty,  $4,000;  schools,  i  ;  scholars,  i(;5. 

Circuit — Robert  Stephens,  ])res.  eld.:  C. 
Munson,  j^astor ;  members,  211;  churches,  5; 
])ro])erty.  $5,500:  schools.  5:  scholars.  256. 

Cowden — Robert  Stephens, '])res.  eld.:  H. 
S.  Rorton,  pastor;  members,  131:  chnrches,  3; 
property,  $3,500:  schools,  2;  scholars,  i6p. 

Stewardson — Robert  Stei)hens,  ])res.  eld.;  S. 
X.  Wakefield,  pastor  ;  members.  201  :cburches,  4  ; 
])ro])erty.  $4,050  :  schools.  2  ;  scholars.  250. 

Tower  Hill — Robert  Stei)hens.  pres,  eld.; 
|.  1).  Martin,  pastor;  members,  301:  churches, 
3;  property.  $8,100:  schools,  2;  scholars.  257. 
^\’indsor — Robert  Stepbcns,  pres,  eld.;  '1'. 

L.  Hancock,  pastor;  members.  140:  churches,  1  ; 
propertN',  $3,650:  schools,  i;  scholars,  116. 

l-'indlay — Robert  Ste]diens.  ])res.  eld.;  T. 
I'.  Pierson,  ])astor. 

Mowea(|ua — C.  (>alcener,  ])res.  eld.;  IC  J. 
l)ui  h''m,  ])astor ;  members,  265;  churches.  1; 
])i  operty,  $6,000 ;  schools.  1  ;  scholars,  203. 

Oconee — C.  Galeener,  ])res.  eld.;  J.  W  . 
Waltz,  pastor  ;  members.  250  :  churches.  4  ;  prop¬ 
erty,  $5,400  :  schools.  4  :  scholars,  327. 

1895 — Shelbvvillc — First  church,  Robert 
Stephens,  presidiiye^  elder ;  W.  F.  ( jillmore,  ])as- 
tor ;  number  of  members,  295  ;  churches.  1  ; 
value  of  church  ])roperty,  $12,500:  number  of 
Sunday  schools,  1  ;  number  of  Sunday  school 
scholars,  145. 

^foulton — Robert  Ste])bens,  ])res.  eld.;  1). 
W.  Rritton,  ])astor;  mend)ers.  227;  cburches,  i  ; 
property,  $4,000;  schools,  1  ;  scholars,  170. 

Circuit — Robert  Ste])hens.  pres,  eld.;  - . 


pastor;  members,  83;  churches,  2;  ])ro])ertv,  $1.- 
600:  schools,  2;  scholars,  140. 

Cowden — Robert  Ste])hens.  pres,  eld.;  H. 
S.  P.orton,  ])astor ;  members,  140:  churches.  3  ; 
pro])erty,  $3. 550  ;  schools.  3  :  scholars,  228. 

I'indlay — Robert  Ste])hens.  ])res.  eld.;  S. 
X.  Madden,  ])astor ;  members.  106:  churches,  3; 
pro])erly,  $5,000;  schools.  2:  scholars.  96.- 

Stewardson — Robert  Stephens.  ])res.  eld.; 

S.  X.  Wakefield,  pastor:  members,  239; 
churches,  4;  ])roperty.  $5,200;  schools,  4; 
scholars.  249. 

.  Tower  Hill — Robert  Stephens,  pres,  eld.; 
J.  P.  15.  Fllis,  pastor;  members,  280;  churches, 
3;  property.  $8,300:  schools,  2:  scholars,  307. 

Windsor — Robert  Ste])hens,  ])j-es.  eld.:  J. 
P.  Hancock,  pastor;  members,  158;  churches,  i  ; 
l)ro|)erty,  $3,700;  schools.  1  ;  scholars,  127. 

Moweacpia — C.  (laleener,  ])res.  eld.;  IP  J. 
Durham,  pastor;  members.  254:  churches.  1; 
])roi)erty.  $(),ooo:  schools.  1  ;  scholars.  198. 

( )conee — C.  ('laleener.  ])res.  eld.:  W.  A. 
])awson.  pastor:  members.  292;  churches.  4; 
pro|)erty,  $5,400:  schools.  4:  scholars.  380. 

1896 — Shelby  ville — Robert  Stepbens,  pre¬ 
siding  elder;  .\.  P.  T.  Fwert.  pastor;  number  of 
members,  346 ;  number  of  churcbes.  1  ;  value  of 
churcb  ])ro])erty.  $1 2,500 :  number  of  Sunday 
Schools.  1  ;  number  of  Sunday  school  scholars, 
'25- 

Moulton — Robert  Stephens,  |)res.  eld.;  R. 

T.  Millies,  pastor:  members.  228:  churches,  i  ; 
])roperty.  $4,200 ;  schools,  i  ;  scholars.  1  70. 

Circuit — Robert  Steiihens,  pres.  eld.; 
— — — - — — ,  jiastor  ;  members.  112  ;  churches.  2  ; 
])ro|)erty,  $1,600;  schools,  2;  scholars.  140. 

Cowden — Robert  Steiihens.  pres.  eld. ;  J.  M. 
Tull,  jiastor;  members.  145;  cburches.  3;  prop¬ 
erty,  $3,550:  schools,  3:  scholars,  281. 

Findlay — Robert  Stei>hens,  jires.  eld.:  P  S. 


197 


HIS  TORIC  SKJi  TCH. 


l’)ickiiell.  pastor  ;  nienihcrs,  162;  .cliurclies.  3  ; 
])roperty,  $5,000;  schools,  3  ;  scholars,  1  18. 

Stew ardsoii — Robert  Stei)hens,  ])res.  eld.; 
vS.  X.  W'akefield, pastor  ;  inenihers,  220  ;churches, 
4;  ])roperty,  $3,(;oo;  schools,  4;  scholars,  312.' 

Tower  Hill — Robert  Stei)hens,  ])res.  eld.; 
j.  .Miller,  j)astor;  niemhers,  252;  churches,  3; 
])roperty,  $8,300;  .schools,  2;  scholars,  234. 

Windsor — Robert  Ste])hen.s,  i)res.  eld.;  T. 

L.  Hancock,  pastor;  meinhers.  161  ;  churches.  1  ; 
j)roperty,  $3,700;  schools,  1  ;  scholars.  127. 

.Moweacjua — 1C.  l’>.  Randle,  i)res.  eld.;  1C.  J. 
Durham,  pastor;  meinhers.  21  (; ;  churches,  1; 
l)ro])erty,  $7,(4(X);  schools,  1  ;  scholars.  i6p. 

( )conee — 1C.  I’>.  Randle.  ])res.  eld.;  W’. 
Dawson,  pastor;  members,  290;  churches.  3; 
pro])erty,  $4,500;  schools,  3;  scholars,  340. 

1897 — Shelhyville — h'irst  church,  S.  H. 
Whitlock,  presiding  elder;  L.  '1'.  iCwert.  pas¬ 
tor;  number  of  members,  350;  churches.  1  ;  value 
of  church  pro])erty,  $12,500;  number  of  Sunday 
schools,  I  ;  number  of  Sunday  school  .scholars, 
140. 

Moulton — S.  11.  Whitlock,  jires.  eld.;  J.  IC. 
Scheer.  pastor;  members.  151;  churches.  1; 
])roperty.  $4,200;  schools,  i  ;  scholars.  169. 

Circuit — S.  11.  Whitlock.  ])res.  eld.;  W.  R. 
Howard,  jiastor ;  members.  175;  churches,  3; 
pro])ertv.  $1,000;  schools,  3  ;  scholars,  i  17. 

Cowden — S.  H.  Whitlock,  pres,  eld.;  h'.  W. 
Moore,  jiastor ;  members.  120;  churches,  3; 
])ro])ertv,  $4,000;  schools,  4;  scholars,  281. 

Findlay — S.  H.  Whitlock,  pres,  eld.:  J.  S. 
Ricknell.  jiastor ;  members,  190:  churches.  3: 
])roj)erty.  $5,000:  schools.  3  ;  scholars,  138. 

Stewardson — S.  H.  Whitlock.  ])res.  eld.;  J. 

M.  Tull,  pastor:  mend)ers,  235:  churches,  4: 
l)roperty.  $4,700:  schools,  4:  scholars,  31  1. 

Tower  Hill — S.  H.  W'hitlock,  pres,  eld.;  J. 


Miller,  pastor  ;  members,  245  ;  churches.  3  ;  prop¬ 
erty.  $6,000  ;  schools,  2  ;  scholars,  200. 

Wiiuksor — S.  H.  W'hitlock,  pres,  eld.;  .\.  A. 
\\'hite.  pastor;  members.  171  ;  churches,  1  ; 
prcjperty,  $3,500;  schools,  1  ;  scholars,  128. 

Moweacjua — 1C.  l’>.  Randle,  i)res.  eld.;  E.  J. 
Durham,  j)astor;  members,  243;  churches,  1; 
])ro|)erty,  $7,900;  schools,  1  ;  scholars,  212. 

( )couee — JC.  I’>.  Randle.  ])res.  eld.;  M.  l’>. 
Hill,  jjastor ;  members,  260;  churches,  3;  ])ro])- 
erty,  $4,500;  schools.  3;  scholars.  340. 

1898- — Shelhyville — h'irst  church,  S.  H. 
Whitlock.  ])residinf;'  elder;  .\.  E.  'P.  ICwert,  |)as- 
tor ;  numher  of  members,  365;  inunber  of 
churches,  1  ;  value  (d  church  ])ro|)erty,  $28,000: 
number  of  Sunday  schools.  1  ;  number  of  Suu- 
da\  school  scholars  140. 

Moulton — S.  11.  W'hitlock,  ])res.  eld.;  S.  X. 
Wakeheld,  ])astor;  members.  170;  churches,  i; 
j)ro|)erty.  $4.200 ;  schools,  1  ;  scholars  203. 

Circuit — S.  11.  Whitlock,  j)res.  eld.;  J.  A. 
Ronsev,  |)astor;  members.  70;  churches,  2;  ])roi)- 
erty  $2,000;  .schools.  1  :  scholars.  49. 

Cowden — .S,  H.  Whitlock,  ])res.  eld.;  A.  M. 
Wells.  ])astor ;  meinhers.  130:  churches,  3;  jiroj)- 
ertv,  $3,500;  schools,  3;  .scholars  170. 

h'iudlav — S.  H.  Whitlock,  ])res.  eld.;  J.  M. 
Cams,  jiastor ;  meinhers,  179;  churches,  3:  jiroj)- 
ertv  $3,000;  schools,  4;  scholars,  235. 

Stewardson — S.  H.  Whitlock,  jires.  eld.;  J. 
M.  'Pull,  jiastor ;  members.  205;  churches.  4; 
|)ro])erty.  $4,750;  schools,  3;  scholars,  310. 

Tower  Hill — S.  H.  Whitlock,  jires.  eld. : 
Jasjier  Miller,  jiastor ;  menrbers,  275;  churches, 
2  ;  jirojierty.  $7,000 ;  schools.  2  ;  scholars.  224. 

Windsor — vS.  H.  W'hitlock.  jires.  eld.:  A. 

White,  jiastor;  members,  175;  churches.  1  ;  ])roj)- 
ertv,  $3,500:  schools,  i  ;  scholars,  120. 

Moweacjua — E.  15.  Randle,  jeres.  eld.:  Jos. 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


lM)x\vortliy.  pastor ;  nK*ml)crs,  225  ;  churches.  1  ; 
])roperty.  $7,^00;  schools,  i  ;  scliolars.  233. 

( )conee — H.  I‘>.  Randle.  i)res.  eld.:  .M.  \’.  H. 
Mill,  pastor:  members.  196:  churches.  3:  ])ro])- 
erty.  $4,500;  schools.  3:  scholars,  226. 

1899 —  Shelhyville — First  church.  S.  H. 
Whitlock,  presidiiyq;  elder:  M.  H.  ( )neal,  ])astor: 
number  of  members.  378 :  number  of  churches. 
I  :  value  of  church  property.  $28,000 :  number  of 
Sunday  schools,  1  :  number  of  Sunday  school 
scholars,  145. 

Moulton — S.  H.  Whitlock,  pres,  eld.:  E.  K. 
Crews,  pastor:  members.  150:  churches.  1  :  prop¬ 
erty.  $3,800:  schools.  1  :  scholars,  127. 

Cowden — S.  M.  Whitlock,  ])rcs.  eld.:  M. 

W  ells,  pastor:  members,  130:  churches,  4;  ])rop- 
erty,  .$4,800:  schools,  3:  scholars,  225. 

Findlay — S.  II.  Whitlock,  i)res.  eld.:  J.  E. 
Dickson,  ])astor :  mend)ers,  168:  churches,  3: 
pro])erty,  $5,000:  schools,  4:  scholars,  226. 

Stewardson — S.  M ..  W'hitlock,  ])res.  eld.:  J. 
M.  hddredi^e.  ])astor:  mend)ers.  275:  churches. 
5:  property.  $5,750:  schools.  4:  scholars.  387. 

Tower  Hill — S.  H.  Whitlock,  ])res.  eld.:  C. 
W  .  Olmstead.  jjastor:  members.  260:  churches, 
2:  property,  $5,800:  schools.  2:  scholars.  210. 

Windsor — S.  H.  Whitlock,  jjres.  eld.:  A.  .\. 
White,  pastor:  members.  172:  churches.  1  :  ])rop- 
erty.  $3,700:  schools,  i  :  scholars,  i  10. 

Mowea(|ua — Horace  Reed,  pres,  eld.:  Jos. 
Foxworthy,  ])astor :  members,  221  :  churches,  1  ; 
])ro])erty,  $7,500:  schools,  i  :  scholars,  226. 

Oconee — Horace  Reed,  ])res.  eld.:  M.  \’.  R. 
Hill.  ])astor:  members.  233:  churches,  3:  pro])- 
erty,  $4,500:  schools.  3  :  scholars.  24$. 

1900 —  Shelhyville — First  church,  S.  H. 
Whitlock,  presidino-  elder:  H.  H.  Flneal.  pastor: 
number  of  members,  370:  number  of  churches. 


I  :  value  of  church  ])roperty.  $29,000:  number  of 
Sitnday  schools.  1  :  number  of  Sundav  school 
scholars,  181 . 

Moulton — S.  11.  Whitlock.  i)res.  eld.:  J.  1^. 
Ik  Fdlis.  pastor:  members.  150;  churches.  1; 
pro])erty.  $3,600:  schools.  1  :  scholars.  140. 

Cowden — S.  1 1.  W  hillock,  pres.  eld. : - 

|)astor :  mejnbers.  183:  churches.  3:  pro|)erty. 
$4,000:  schools.  3:  scholars.  247. 

I'indlay — S.  II.  W'hitlock.  ])res.  eld.:  J.  E. 
Dick.son,  ])astor :  members.  165:  churches.  3: 
pro])erty.  $5,000:  schools.  5:  scholars,  280. 

Stewardson — S.  11.  W’hitlock.  pres,  eld.:  I. 
.M.  Eldredf^e.  ])astor :  members,  273:  churches. 
5:  |)ro])erty,  $5,500:  schools.  4:  scholars,  225. 

Clarksburjj — S.  11.  Whitlock.  ])res.  eld.:  C. 
W'.  Monson.  jiastor :  members.  (;o:  churches.  2: 
l)roperty.  $1,500:  schools.  2:  scholars.  8(y 

Tower  Hill— S.  11.  W'hitlock.  ju'es.  eld.:  (E 
W  .  (  )lmstead.  ])astor:  members.  260:  churches, 
2:  pro])erty.  $5  SfX) :  schools,  2:  scholars,  270. 

Windsor — S.  1 1.  W’hitlock,  ])res.  eld.:  E.  I\. 
Crews,  pastor:  members.  176;  churches.  1  :  prop¬ 
erty.  $3,500:  schools.  2:  scholars.  165. 

Moweacpia — Horace  Reed.  ])res.  eld.:  J. 
I'o.xworthv.  ])astor:  members.  310:  churches,  1  : 
])ro])erty,  $7,500:  schools.  1  :  scholars.  251. 

(  )conee — Horace  Reed.  ])res.  eld.:  I).  1). 
Kensil,  ])astor  :  members.  243  :  churches.  3  :  pro|)- 
erty.  $4,300:  sch(K)l.s.  3  :  scholars.  237. 

.\t  the  present  time,  there  are.  within  the 
countv.  ten  ])astors.  2,220  members,  22  church 
buildings,  ])ro])erty  (including  parsona,q’es ) 
valued  at  $69,400,  twenty-four  Sunday  schools 
with  2,085  Sunday  school  scholars.  The  church 
is  ^rowiu"  from  year  to  year,  and  will  no  doubt 
continue  to  be  in  the  time  to  come,  as  it  has  in 
the  ])ast,  a  "real  benefit  to  the  people. 


199 


HIS  TOR  1C  SKE  TCH. 


FREK  METIIODEST. 

(  By  Rev.  A.  J.  Sinitli.) 

In  doctrine  the  Free  Methodist  church  ad- 
heres  closely  to  the  standard  bearers  of  the  M.  E. 
church.  The  difference  is  chiefly  in  church  j^ov- 
ernnient. 

Since  it  is  written  "Eet  every  one  that 
weareth  the  name  of  Christ  depart  from 
ini(|uity,"  they  make  as  a  test  of  membership, 
the  skiving'  up  of  secret  societies,  the  layinj.^  aside 
of  superduous  adorning-s  and  the  abstaining  from 
the  use  of  opiates,  such  as  tobacco  and  o])ium. 
.\s  a  church  they  stand  i)ledj^ed  to  sui)])ort  the 
])olitical  party  that  ])romises  the  ])rohibition  of 
the  li(|uor  traffic,  d'heir  constant  aim  beiiyt( 
principle  before  i)olicy. 

COWDE.W 

'I'he  first  I'ree  Methodist  church  in  Shelby 
county  was  orja^anized  in  1881,  by  the  Rev.  \\b  B. 
M.  Colt,  in  Cowden,  after  a  very  successful  re¬ 
vival  meetino'  in  which  the  doctrine  of  entire 
sanctification  was  made  prominent. 

.-\s  a  result  of  definite  preaching;  of  that 
doctrine  and  makin"  the  doctrine  of  Holiness  a 
si)ecialtv,  a  ^^reat  many  were  obedient  to  the 
faith,  amono-  whom  were  a  number  from  the  dif¬ 
ferent  churches,  and  es])ecially  the  M.  Iv  church. 

While  many  in  the  different  chnrches,  and 
outside  of  all  churches,  sought  and  professed  to 
have  obtained  the  e.xi)erience  referred  to  above, 
this  preaching  raised  a  storm  of  ])ersecution. 
preachers  taking  a  hand  in  it.  until  one  promi¬ 
nent  preacher  said  to  his  church  ;  “Sit  down  on 
holiness,  and  sit  down  on  it  hard."  A  ell  that  is 
what  thev  did  ;  they  sat  down  so  hard  that  the 
doctrine  and  its  advocates  were  si)rcad  over  a 
good  ])ortion  of  the  county.  But  the  main  issue 


was  not  as  much  over  doctrine  of  holiness  of 
heart,  as  holiness  of  life ;  many  claiming  that  the 
scriptures  were  oi)i)osed  to  the  idea  of  a  Christian 
living  without  committing  sin. 

R.  W.  Sanderson  was  the  first  pastor,  with 
W  .  S.  Morrow  as  assistant,  as  the  circuit  then 
consisted  of  Cowden  and  Eitchfield,  with  several 
societies  between.  '1  he  following  year  R.  W. 
Sanderson  was  returned  to  what  was  then  called 
the  Cowden  circuit,  taking  in  I’leasant  drove 
ami  the  old  Ridge  which  is  now  i)art  of  the 
'Power  1 1  ill  circuit. 

'1'.  11.  .\gnew  was  pastor  in  1884,  remaining 
one  year,  and  was  followed  by  'I'.  J.  Xoland,  with 
J.  W’.  \\’.  Kelley  as  assistant:  the  class  at  Beth¬ 
any  being  organized  that  year,  also  the  society  at 
Bana  in  the  same  year. 

Rev.  W’.  C.  Kelley  was  pastor  in  1886-1887. 
(hiring  which  time  the  Sylvan  society  was  or¬ 
ganized.  In  the  fall  of  1888  H.  F.  .-\shcraft  was 
sent  as  pastor,  and  remained  one  year,  being  fol¬ 
lowed  by  R.  W.  Sanderson,  who  remained  two 
\ears.  'i'hen  ]jastors  followed  in  this  order:  J. 
A.  Eason,  tSpi  :  I).  Kimbnj,  i8(j2:  H.  G. 
.\hlemever,  i8y3-i8(j4 :  W.  R.  Benham,  18(^5- 
i8(j6:  C.  .\.  Fleming,  1897:  B.  Grigg,  i8(j8- 
Kjoo,  remaining  until  March  20,  Kjoi,  when  be¬ 
cause  of  i)Oor  he^alth  he  resigned  his  work  and 
Rev.  C.  A.  I'leming,  of  Greenville,  Illinois,  was 
ap])ointe(l  to  finish  out  the  year. 

At  present  the  Cowden  circuit  numbers  i  14 
members  and  six  ])robationers,  a  total  of  120; 
four  local  jireachers  :  three  evangelists ;  two  Sun¬ 
day  schools,  with  twenty-eight  officers  and  teach¬ 
ers,  and  152  scholars:  value  of  church  jiroperty. 
$3,000. 

B)esides  what  the  Free  Methodist  church 
represents  in  Cowden  it  has  had  the  missionary 
s])irit  everv  since  its  organization,  and  every 


200 


HISTORIC  SKETCH. 


year,  with  very  few  exceptions,  lias  Iiad  a 
camp  meeting-  in  close  proximity  to  the  town 
lasting  about  two  weeks,  during  which  hundreds 
have  been  saved  and  gone  out  to  other  neighbor¬ 
hoods  and  other  ilenominations  to  carry  the 
gos])el  of  full  salvation.  At  these  animal  gather¬ 
ings  there  are  able  and  spiritual  men  in  charge, 
who  have  left  “all''  for  Christ  and  have  the  work 
so  at  heart  that  Cod  has  ever  been  jdeased  "to 
bless  them  with  ont-])onying  of  the  spirit  in  Pen¬ 
tecostal  measure. 

.\  nnmber  of  Cowden’s  most  honored  citi¬ 
zens  are  members  of  the  1'.  M.  church,  toiling, 
sacrificing  and  contending  for  the  faith  once  de¬ 
livered  to  the  saints.  Among  them  we  mention 
Lon  Torrence,  who  was  noted  as  a  man  of  busi¬ 
ness  in  church  and  state.  He  is  among  the  first 
to  obtain  the  experience  and  defend  the  doctrine 
of  Entire  Sanctification.  He  met  a  violent  death, 
being  crushed  by  an  infuriated  beast,  but  “his 
works  do  follow  him.”  'I'hen  there  were  James 
Erizzell.  Hilton  Hunter,  the  Kesler  l>ros..  be¬ 
sides  others  who  were  charter  members,  some  of 
whom  have  gone  to  their  reward,  while  others  of 
them  still  walk  these  mortal  shores  and  tell 
with  burning  zeal  and  holy  fervor  the  trials  and 
triumjihs  of  their  faith  during  nearly  of  a  (juarter 
of  a  centurv  in  which  they  have  stood  for  the 
])rinci])les  of  righteousness  and  reform. 

TOWER  HILL. 

The  church  at  Tower  Hill  was  organized 
by  T.  J.  Noland,  the  pastor,  and  J.  W.  W.  Kelley, 
in  1883,  after  a  very  successful  re¬ 
vival  meeting  in  which  a  few  ])romi- 
nent  people  of  the  town  received  the  doc¬ 
trines  and  ex])erience  taught  by  the  Eree  Metho¬ 
dists,  i.  e.,  repentance,  faith,  justification  and 
sanctification. 


The  pastors  of  the  church  who  have  traveled 
the  Tower  Hill  circuit  since  Hros.  Noland  and 
Kelley,  are.  respectively,  as  follows  :  Levi  Coch¬ 
ran,  1884;  .\.  J.  Edwards.  1885;  J.  L.  Wiliford. 
1886;  r>.  F.  (irigg.  1887-1888:  1).  W.  Salla.  i88()- 
Kjoo;  M.  .A.  Cox,  i8pi  :  W.  W.  Lruce,  i8i>2- 
1803 ;  A.  J.  Smith.  i8p4-i8(j5:  .\.  H.  .\hlemeyer. 
1 8y6- 1 897- 1 8i;8  :  A.  L.  Crumbly.  1899:  j.  F. 
Deremiah.  19CO. 

.Among  the  prominent  lay  mendiers  of  this 
society  who  ought  to  be  mentioned  are  .Mr. 
I'rank  Corley  and  wife,  and  .Mr.  John  Sharrock. 

'I'he  church  at  "the  Hill"  was  built  in  1884. 
and  dedicated  by  \\  .  lb  W.  Colt,  with  ncjt  one 
dollar  of  indebtedness  at  the  time  of  dedication. 
.At  present  there  are  three  churches  and  a  par¬ 
sonage  on  the  circuit.  The  second  church  was 
built  at  Cold  Si)rings.  During  the  labors  of  .A. 
J.  Smith  in  1894  and  ’95  the  church  was  built  at 
Lakewood  and  the  i)arsonage  was  enlarged. 

SHELI’.AA  ILLE. 

'I'he  class  at  Shelbyville  was  organized  in 
1884.  bv  'P.  J.  Noland  and  j.  W.  \\  .  Kelley.  'Phe 
l)reachers  following  were:  Sister  Julia  'Phacker  , 
I’.rothers  Cox.  h'ouler,  (lood.  Deremiah.  Coch¬ 
ran.  John.son,  .AIc.Millen.  Johnson,  re-appointed. 
Denton,  .Alaning.  Ella  Al.  Smith  and  .\.  J.  Smith. 
'Phe  church  was  built  during  the  labors  of  Sister 
'Phacker. 

'Phe  society  in  the  city  and  the  one  at  Sylvan 
have  been  united  as  a  circuit  part  of  the  time 
and  the  rest  of  the  time  divided  into  two  ajipoint- 
ments.  ( )ur  work  at  Shelbyville  has  suffered 
from  different  causes,  the  principal  one  being 
that  a  certain  class  was  led  away  with  some  who 
denounced  all  churches  and  overthrew  the  faith 
of  others. 

.Among  some  of  the  leaders  and  charter 


201 


HIS  rORIC  SKE  TCH. 


members  we  mention  William  Bivins,  J.  W. 
Johnson,  Sister  Hart  and  Sister  O'Brien.  Dur¬ 
ing'  the  labors  of  Ella  AI.  Smith,  in  1900,  and  A. 
J.  Smith,  in  1901,  the  work  has  been  greatly 
strengthened  and  some  improvements  made  on 
the  church  building. 

Tbe  society  is  stifl  small,  but  most  of  the 
members  can  be  found  at  class  and  prayer  meet¬ 
ing,  and  are  liberal  in  supporting  the  gospel.  -A 
very  prosperous  Sunday  school  is  superintended 
by  Airs.  Pearl  Cox. 

The  next  annual  Free  Alethodist  camp 
meeting  will  be  held  at  Shelbyville  on  the  fair 
grounds,  where  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  tents 
are  expected  to  be  ])ut  up,  and  where  a  number 
of  prominent  workers  will  be  present  to  help 
make  the  meeting  a  success. 

THE  BAPTIST. 

(Bv  Rev.  Audrey  A.  Todd.) 

The  Church  of  God  is  one  of  the  primal 
factors  in  the  development  of  any  county.  ^  he 
hardy  pioneer  and  the  itinerating  herald  of  the 
cross  have  together  entered  the  wilderness  and 
subdued  it ;  one  by  the  use  of  the  axe  and  plough¬ 
share.  the  other  by  ‘‘the  sword  of  the  Spirit.” 

Different  denominations  have  sent  com¬ 
missioned  emissaries  into  these  new  fields,  not 
to  war  upon  each  other,  but  to  vie  in  holy  emula¬ 
tion  that  the  opening  territory  might  become 
subjected  to  our  Saviour. 

Prominent  among  tbe  great  denominations 
thus  sending  out  forerunners  with  Gospel  tidings 
of  great  joy  is  the  Baptist  church  with  its  mil¬ 
lions  of  communicants. 

An  ordained  minister  of  this  denomination, 
Bushrod  Henry  by  name,  was  the  first  to  enter 


the  jjresent  limits  of-  Shelby  county  in  the  inter¬ 
ests  of  his  church.  In  the  year  1830,  three  years 
subsequent  to  tbe  organization  of  tbe  county,  he 
jjreached  in  the  village  of  Shelbyville.  In  the 
course  of  two  years  he  had  baptized  over  eighty 
persons  and  founded  a  church.  He  labored  with 
all  the  energy  of  an  apostle,  and  became  greatly 
endeared  to  his  people’. 

.\  modern  house  of  worship  was  soon 
erected  and  Zion  prosi)ered.  The  pastor,  how¬ 
ever,  began  to  disseminate  the  doctrines  of  one 
-Alexander  Campbell,  and  in  a  few  years  boldly 
declared  himself  in  favor  of  these  views.  He  ac¬ 
cordingly,  with  most  of  his  membership,  voted 
in  favor  of  striking  the  word  ‘‘Ba])tist”  from  their 
denomiiiational  name,  and  became  by  their  own 
act  "The  Church  of  Christ  in  Shelbyville.”  Thus 
it  happens  that  the  Baptist  church  is  the  local 
])arent  of  a  child  of  another  name. 

The  subsecpient  work,  of  the  denomination 
in  this  city  is  subjoined  below.  From  the  be¬ 
ginning  thus  traced,  the  work  has  grown  until 
there  are  now  10  churches  within  the  county, 
with  a  total  membership  of  896,  and  a  Sunday 
school  enrollment  of  502.  Xo  fact  speaks  better 
for  any  section  of  county  than  a  corresponding 
development  in  church  and  school  life  with  other 
interests  of  a  secular  nature. 

We  give  a  list  of  the  churches,  their 
membership,  etc.,  that  the  reader  may  under¬ 
stand  how  the  work  has  become  disseminated 
through  all  parts  of  the  county,  and  the  relative 
importance  of  the  proportions  assumed. 

Shelbyville — A.  A.  Todd,  pastor;  Walter  C. 
Headen,  Sbelbyville,  clerk ;  total  membership, 
219;  Sunday  school  enrollment,  104;  value  of 
church  ])roperty,  $5,000. 

Shelby — E.  Beckett,  pastor;  Aliss  Cora 
Pope,  Oconee,  clerk;  total  membership,  26. 

Lakewood — AI.  C.  Jones,  pastor;  C.  F. 


202 


HIS  TOR/C  SKE  TCH. 


Bowman.  Lakewood,  clerk ;  total  membership, 
26. 

Little  Flock — \V.  F.  Buskirk,  pastor;  Daniel 
Miller,  Robinson  Creek,  clerk;  total  member¬ 
ship,  37. 

Moweaqiia — Jos.  B.  Rogers,  pastor;  Rosella 
Thomas,  Moweaqna,  clerk ;  total  membership, 
344 ;  Sunday  school  enrollment.  333 ;  value  of 
church  property,  $5,000. 

New  Hope — M.  C.  Jones,  pastor;  W'm. 
Barton,  Lakewood,  clerk ;  total  membership.  87. 

Union — C.  P.  Roberts,  pastor;  Julia  A.  Cal¬ 
vert,  Brunswick,  clerk ;  total  membership.  57. 

Providence — C.  P.  Roberts,  jiastor;  \\'.  T. 
Xeil,  Tower  Hill,  clerk  ;  total  membership.  25. 

Richland — G.  W.  Syfert,  pastor;  M.  Rich¬ 
ards,  Strasburg,  clerk ;  total  membership.  69 ; 
Sunday  school  enrollment.  65  ;  value  of  church 
])roperty,  $1,200. 

Windsor — Total  membership,  6. 

SHELBYMLLE. 

The  following  is  a  more  detailed  account  of 
the  Baptist  church  in  Shelby ville.  In  1862  a 
second  Baptist  church,  claiming  no  parentage 
from  any  previous  organization  was  formed  in 
the  town.  Rev.  R.  R.  Coon,  of  Pana,  ajipears 
to  have  superintended  the  formation  of  the  work. 
He  became  pastor  in  1862,  resigning  his  work  in 
the  fall  of  1864.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  Rev.  Wm. 
Stillwell,  of  Kentucky,  was  called  as  pastor,  re¬ 
signing  in  the  spring  of  1867,  at  which  time  the 
church  seems  to  have  become  extinct. 

The  present  Shelbyville  Baptist  church  was 
organized  on  the  17th  of  September.  1868.  Rev. 
W.  H.  Steadman  was  called  as  pastor,  April  3. 
1869.  In  1870,  the  present  church  edifice  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $8,600,  located  at  the  south¬ 
west  corner  of  M"ood  and  North  Second  streets. 
In  June,  1871,  IMr.  Steadman  resigned  his  pas¬ 
torate,  the  church  having  a  season  of  prosperity. 


In  September,  1871,  Rev.  J  .  H.  Phillips, 
though  personally  unknown  to  the  church,  upon 
recommendation,  was  extended  a  unanimous 
call  and  served  the  church  with  great  acceptance 
till  the  31st  of  October.  1874. 

In  1875.  Rev.  A.  L.  Seward  served  tbe 
church  for  six  months,  and  in  1876,  the  church 
recalled  Mr.  Phillips,  who  ultimately  accepted. 
His  second  resignation  was  effected  September 
24th,  1878,  much  to  the  reluctance  of  the  Baptist 
people. 

Tbe  next  two  years  the  church,  crippled 
with  a  standing  debt,  continued  only  with  occa¬ 
sional  supply  work.  Rev.  LX.  Hobart.  Superin¬ 
tendent  of  State  Missions,  did  much  to  liquidate 
the  debt.  Thomas  M.  Thornton  may  be  men¬ 
tioned  as  one  of  the  most  liberal  givers. 

In  the  fall  of  1880.  the  church,  now  free  of 
debt,  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Barker, 
who  served  the  church  till  January.  1883. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Patt,  one  of  Shelbyville's  untiring 
pastors,  sen'ed  the  church  si.x  and  one-half  years, 
from  -April,  1883  until  December.  1889. 

Rev.  John  P.  Styler  served  as  pastor  from 
the  spring  of  1890  to  the  spring  of  1892.  Rev. 
W.  W.  Williams  served  the  church  from  De¬ 
cember,  1892.  to  December.  1893. 

Rev.  L.  H.  M'illiams,  a  graduate  of  Shurt- 
leff,  ser\'ed  as  pastor  for  four  years,  from  June. 
1894  until  April,  1898. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Spilman  from  January,  1899  to 
October,  1899. 

Rev.  L.  M.  Goff  from  January.  1900  to  Oc¬ 
tober.  1900. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  Audrey  A.  Todd, 
upon  a  unanimous  call,  accepted  the  pastorate 
and  began  his  labors  early  in  January.  1901.  The 
church  is  united  and  is  made  up  of  some  of  Shel¬ 
byville's  most  excellent  people.  Every  depart¬ 
ment  of  work  is  encouraging  to  the  new  pastor. 
The  Sunday  school,  under  the  wise  leadership 


20 


0 


THOMAS  H.  GRAHAM.  THOMAS  H.  KIGHTEK. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


DR.  AXDREW  C.  JACKSON. 

William  Henry  Jackson,  the  father  of  our  sub¬ 
ject,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Shelby  county. 
Tie  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  coming  to  Illinois  at  an 
early  clay.  I^is  death  did  not  occur  until  the 
present  winter  ic;oo-’oi.  His  familiar  figure  was 
.■■een  upon  the  streets  until  a  very  short  time  be¬ 
fore  the  reaper  .cut  down  the  long-standing  grain. 
Mr.  Jackson  was  a  successful,  honest,  respected 
citizen  whose  name  will  long  he  remembered 
throughout  the  county.  The  mother  of  our  sub¬ 
ject  was  Alary  I’urke,  of  Pennsylvania,  who  some 
years  prior  to  the  death  of  her  husband,  crossed 
into  the  unseen.  .Andrew  spent  his  early  life 
upon  a  farm  in  Pickaway  township  and  attended 
the  district  school.  He  early  gave  evidence  of 
mental  aptitude  and  he  subsec|uently  developed 
his  training  at  X’alparaiso,  Inch,  and  at  the  Louis¬ 
ville  Medical  college,  from  which  he  was  gradu¬ 
ated  in  the  class  of  \)y.  One  year  the  doctor 
spent  rusticating  in  the  west :  while  there  he  rode 
upon  a  ranch  as  a  cow-boy.  In  November.  18(^3. 
Andrew  Jackson  and  Jennie,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Sarah  Benfiel.  were  united  in  marriage.  Two 
sons  have  been  born  to  them — James  Roy.  and 
Lloyd.  The  doctor  began  his  practice  at  Henton 
(Prairie  Bird)  shortly  after  his  graduation,  where 
he  has  ever  since  enjoyed  an  increasing  degree 
of  confidence  and  respect  among  the  countrv 
folk  who  surround  him.  The  doctor  is  a  friend 
of  democracy  politically,  we  could  scarcely  e.x- 
pect  an  .Andrew  Jackson  to  be  otherwise;  and 
fraternally  he  is  a  Alodern  Woodman.  .As  a 
practitioner  he  stands  well  among  the  medical 


fraternity  of  the  county.  He  seems  to  under¬ 
stand  and  successfully  treat  the  different  forms 
of  disease.  We  predict  that  he  will  bear  untarn¬ 
ished  the  good  name  of  his  father. 

*  *  *  * 

GLV  Cl’TLER. 

The  editor  of  the  Findlay  Enten)rise.  Guy 
Cutler,  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Shelby  county, 
having  lived  within  its  borders  most  of  his  life¬ 
time.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Rose  township, 
Mav  10.  1871.  the  son  of  James  T.  and  Lucretia 
(Guion)  Cutler.  His  education  began  in  the  dis¬ 
trict  schools,  and  ended  in  the  public  schools  of 
Shelhyville. 

Early  in  life  Mr.  Cutler  evidenced  an  ai)ti- 
tude  for  journalism  and  the  printing  business, 
and  learned  the  printers'  trade  in  an  office  in 
Shelhyville.  Later  he  went  to  Chicago,  where 
he  spent  several  years  in  a  large  job  ])rinting 
establishment,  and  became  a  very  efficient  work¬ 
man.  One  evidence  of  this  is  the  fact  that  for 
three  years  he  had  charge  of  the  L'nited  States 
.Army  printing  office,  a  position  which  he  held  to 
the  eminent  satisfaction  of  those  concerned. 

For  a  time  Mr.  Cutler  was  proprietor  of  the 
Windsor  Gazette,  but  in  1892  he  disposed  of  that 
]ilant  and  established  the  Enterprise  at  Findlay. 
Two  years  later  he  sold  that  paper,  and  spent  the 
succeeding  three  years  in  Chicago.  In  1897  he 
returned  to  Findlay  and  repurchased  the  Enter¬ 
prise,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted  himself 
to  making  his  business  a  success,  and  is  fast 


205 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


acconii)lishiiif^  his  i)urpose.  Prior  to  the  presi¬ 
dential  canii)aij^n  of  1900,  the  Enterprise  was  in¬ 
dependent  in  politics,  hut  in  that  caini)aign  came 
out  as  a  staunch  republican  organ. 

Perchance  the  most  pleasing  event  of  Mr. 
Cutler's  life  occurred  on  the  loth  of  August, 
1892,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  llelle  Gilpin, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Ellen  (Reynolds)  Gilpin, 
of  Windsor.  She  is  a  genial,  sociable  lady,  and 
has  many  very  warm  friends  in  the  eastern  side 
of  Shelby  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cutler  are  the 
patents  of  four  bright  and  pleasant  children,  the 
names  of  whom  are  as  follows:  Margaret,  Min¬ 
nie,  James  G.  and  S.  E.  The  home  life  of  this 
family  is  comfortable  and  happy,  and  they  are 
held  in  high  esteem  by  the  residents  of  Findlay. 

Socially,  [Mr.  Cutler  is  a  member  of  the  Ma¬ 
sonic  fraternity,  and  is  the  i)resent  W'orshipful 
Master  of  I'imllay  lodge.  No.  831. 

*  *  *  * 

vSAMCEL  H.  WRIGHT. 

T  he  subject  of  this  biography  is  a  son  of 
Shelby  county.  .All  his  life  has  been  spent  here 
save  a  period  of  six  years  which  he  spent  in  farm¬ 
ing  and  stock  raising  in  the  state  of  Kentucky. 
He  may  be  said  to  be  of  English-German  parent¬ 
age.  His  father.  William,  was  born  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kentucky,  and  settled  on  section  26, 
Todd’s  Point  township,  this  county,  in  his  young 
manhood.  The  mother  was  a  native  of  Ten¬ 
nessee  ;  her  maiden  name  was  Martha  Dowdy. 
She  came  to  Illinois  early  in  life  with  her  parents. 
When  Mr.  Wright  settled  in  Todd’s  Point  there 
were  scarcely  more  than  a  half  dozen  families  in 
the  east  end  of  the  township.  Into  his  home 
were  born  nine  children,  only  five  of  whom  are 
still  living;  but,  strangely,  they  all  reside  in 
Shelby  county. 


( )ur  subject  had  only  a  common  school 
education,  but  he  made  good  use  of  the  meagre 
oj^portunities  afforded  him.  .As  a  young  man  he 
was  not  vigorous  in  body,  and  was  accordingly 
given  the  work  of  a  herdsman.  He  frecjuently 
had  charge  of  three  or  four  hundred  head  of 
stock  as  they  fed  over  these  rich  prairies.  The 
father,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  i)receding 
statement,  was  a  very  successful  farmer;  at  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  one  of  the  most  well-to- 
do  and  favorably  known  men  of  the  county. 
Samuel  Henry  began  farming  for  himself  about 
two  miles  from  his  birthplace  when  he  was  about 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  In  the  year  1870,  on 
the  fourteenth  day  of  I^ebruary,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Amanda  .Albro,  of  this  county. 

( )ne  child  was  born  to  them  which  died  in  in¬ 
fancy.  Mr.  Wright  suffered  the  loss  of  his  girl- 
wife  and  was  subsecjuently  married  on  he  27th 
day  of  January,  1876,  to  Miss  Nancy  Shouse,  of 
Henry  county,  Kentucky.  Six  children  have 
blessed  this  union,  one  of  whom  (Ernest)  died  in 
infancy,  and  one  (.Adda  May)  died  in  the  Bower 
of  her  young  womanhood,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years.  The  living  are:  Martha  Ellis,  A’ir- 
ginia  Pearl,  a  graduate  from  the  city  school ; 
Daniel  D.,  who  is  to  be  graduated  this  year,  and 
Newton.  For  three  years  Mr.  Wright  conducted 
an  implement  business  on  South  Morgan  street. 
For  nine  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  city, 
having  come  here  to  educate  his  children.  Honor 
is  due  the  man  who  having  not  received  such 
training  himself,  still  recognizes  the  value  of  it,, 
and  provides  thus  amply  for  his  children.  Mr. 
Wright  has  been  clerk  of  his  township  and  in 
many  other  ways  has  been  made  to  feel  the  con¬ 
fidence  which  his  friends  repose  in  him.  On  the 
financial  and  governmental  ([uestions  of  the  day 
he  is  in  spirit  a  republican,  but,  yielding  obed¬ 
ience  to  the  voice  of  his  own  conscience,  he 
votes  the  prohibition  ticket.  We  are  glad  to  re- 


206 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


cord  one  such  voter  in  the  annals  of  Shelby  coun¬ 
ty  history.  Mr.  Wrig’ht  and  family  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  They  live  in 
a  handsome  residence  of  their  own  on  North 
Broadway,  in  addition  to  which  they  own  a  farm 
of  three  hundred  twenty  acres  of  good  land.  The 
family  is  such  that  we  feel  safe  in  predicting  that 
for  years  to  come  the  name  “W'right”  will  be 
among  the  honored  ones  of  the  county. 

*  *  *  * 

DR.  ODES  O.  WHITTINGTON. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  October.  1869.  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  His  birth  place 
was  in  Cold  Spring  township,  this  county.  His 
parents,  Joseph  and  Joanna  (Buchanan)  Whit¬ 
tington  have  home  ten  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy,  and  Raleigh.  July  26th,  1897: 
the  living  are:  Hattie.  Ella,  Noi.  Ida.  William 
H.,  Frank,  Odes  ().,  of  whom  we  write. 

Dr.  Whittington  was  reared  to  hard  labor, 
being  born  on  a  farm  ;  he  is  another  example  of 
that  sterling  manhood  w'hich  has  its  rise  in  rural 
life.  His  early  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  those  furnished  by  the  district  school, 
but  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  was  able  to 
gratify  one  of  his  ambitions,  and  matriculated 
with  the  jMissouri  Medical  college  in  St.  Louis. 
He  was  graduated  from  this  institution  in  the 
class  of  ’97,  with  eighty-two  other  students.  At 
the  time  of  his  graduation  he  was  marked  100  in 
his  chemistry  examination,  thus  winning  the 
prize  offered  by  Prof.  Chas.  O.  Curtman,  one  of 
the  most  eminent  chemists  in  the  country. 

In  1897  he  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession  in  the  village  of  Herrick,  and  in  the 
following  year  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr. 
Geo.  S.  Bolt,  whose  biography  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  Our  subject  has  come  to  be 
recognized  as  a  good  practitioner ;  he  keeps 


abreast  of  the  times,  sparing  no  pains  to  be  able 
to  recognize  and  successfully  treat  disease.  It 
may  be  stated  that  Dr.  Whittington  has  devoted 
his  life  to  this  one  thing:  his  only  other  occupa¬ 
tion  being  that  of  a  hardware  dealer,  which 
served  but  as  a  stepping-stone  to  his  college 
course.  He  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  and 
K.  of  P.  lodges,  and  is  admired  for  his  social 
(lualities.  He  goes  to  Coffeen.  Illinois,  as  min¬ 
ing  physician,  and  takes  with  him  the  respect  of 
all  who  know  him.  We  venture  to  jiredict  that 
he  will  one  day  stand  high  in  i)rofessional  circles 
at  large. 

if  it-  * 

EZEKIEL  K.  v8CHW.\RTZ. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Lewiston.  Mifflin  county.  Pennsylvania.  He  is 
the  son  of  German-Swiss  parentage :  his  father's 
name  was  Frederick  and  his  mother's  Elizabeth 
(Kohler)  Schwartz.  Ezekiel  was  reared  u])on  a 
farm,  and  attended  the  district  school  in  his  na¬ 
tive  town.  He  subseciuently  spent  some  time  in 
the  Lewiston  Academy,  leaving  the  same  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years  and  coming  with  his  parents 
to  Shelby  county,  where  they  settled  upon  a 
farm  seven  miles  north  of  Shelby ville.  In  the 
year  1862  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union 
army  as  a  private  in  Co.  B.  115th  Illinois  \  ol. 
As  a  soldier  he  saw  much  hardshii)  and  partici¬ 
pated  in  a  large  number  of  severe  engagements : 
.so  bravely  and  well  did  he  discharge  his  soldierly 
duties  that  he  was  the  subject  of  promotion,  and 
in  June.  1865.  was  honorably  discharged  bearing 
commission  as  first  lieutenant. 

On  the  twenty-si.xth  day  of  December.  1866. 
he  was  married  to  IMiss  Joanna,  daughter  of  Nel¬ 
son  and  Angelina  (Kyes)  Scott.  The  couple  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  named  children  : 
Frederick.  Elgin,  Bertha.  Estella,  Irma.  Grace. 


207 


B/OGRAPHIES. 


Sula,  and  Ralpli,  living- ;  Mary  and  Luther,  dead, 
and  two  others  deceased  in  infancy. 

They  lived  n])on  their  farm  until  ( )ctoher, 
i8y2,  when  they  removed  to  Findlay  and  en¬ 
gaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  In  this  line 
he  has  been  successful ;  he  carries  a  large  line  of 
general  merchandise  and  groceries,  and  is  re¬ 
garded  as  a  reliable  business  man.  His  life  is  a 
living  example  of  sturdy,  u])right  manhood. 

4c 

J.AMES  15.  SIXOER. 

The  proprietor  of  the  Climax  Roller  Mills 
of  Stewardson,  Illinois,  is  the  son  of  Christian 
and  Mary  Singer.  His  birth  place  was  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  the  event  occurring  in  the  year 
1856.  He  attended  the  villiage  school  in  his  na¬ 
tive  town  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  left  home  and  began  making  his  own 
way  in  life.  He  first  stopped  at  Neoga,  Illinois, 
where  he  learned  the  milling  business  while 
working  for  his  brother,  W.  1 1.  Singer.  He  after¬ 
wards  formed  a  partnershij)  with  his  brother, 
dissolving  the  same  in  1883.  After  this  time  he 
removed  to  Stewardson  in  1894,  and  started  the 
enterprise  which  he  still  conducts.  Mr.  Singer 
took  for  a  wife  Miss  Emma  Lewis.  They  have 
been  the  parents  of  three  children — llessie  Ward, 
and  James  E.,  who  are  living,  and  William,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 

Mr.  Singer  is  a  member  of  Stewardson  lodge 
•A.  E.  &  A.  M.  No.  541,  and  Neoga  Chapter  No. 
150,  R.  A.  M. ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Alod- 
ern  Woodmen  and  of  the  Methodist  Epsicopal 
church.  The  life  of  Air.  Singer  is  an  illustration 
of  the  possibilities  in  honest  effort :  he  has  made 
his  way  unaided,  no  inherited  wealth  giving  him 
his  start  in  life.  He  now  stands  well  in  the 
social,  business  and  religious  life  of  the  com¬ 
munity  in  which  he  lives.  We  have  ever  felt  that 
the  highest  words  of  praise  fittingly  belong  to 


that  class  of  our  American  manhood  which 
arises  from  obscurity  to  places  of  eminence  and 
trust. 

*  *  *  <! 

SAMUEL  A.  ICO. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  city  of  Shelby- 
ville,  Illinois,  on  the  14th  day  of  July,  1864.  His 
father,  John  Igo,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  came 
to  the  city  named  when  he  was  but  one  and  one- 
half  years  of  age.  Though  of  the  age  just  men¬ 
tioned  he  rode  a  horse  across  the  Okaw  when 
coming  into  the  city :  we  will  leave  the  reader  to 
conjecture  how  this  was  accomi)lished.  The 
mother  of  Samuel  was  Harriet  I’heli)s.  His  boy¬ 
hood  was  s])ent  in  labors  upon  a  farm  and  in  at¬ 
tending  school.  He  was  one  of  the  first  two 
pui)ils  to  take  his  seat  in  the  new  school  build¬ 
ing:  and  here  he  laid  the  foundations  for  the 
business  success  winch,  now  characterizes  him. 
On  April  fourteenth,  A.  D.  1886  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Ada  Lantz,  of  Shelbyville.  The  father  of 
the  bride,  Philip  Lantz,  was  one  of  the  much  re- 
sjjected  residents  of  the  city,  both  in  business  and 
social  circles.  Mr.  Igo  for  a  time  engaged  in  the 
restaurant  and  bakery  business,  but  for  the 
greater  portion  of  his  adult  life  has  given  his  at¬ 
tention  to  the  breeding  and  sale  of  choice  stock, 
including  both  horses  and  cattle:  of  Jersey  cat¬ 
tle  he  makes  a  specialty.  In  the  year  lyoo  he 
shipped  about  twenty  car  loads  of  live  stock 
from  the  Shelbyville  yards.  His  business  is 
largely  conducted  from  his  office  in  the  “Water 
Tower  Barn”  where  he  has  been  for  the  last  three 
years.  Air.  Igo  is  fraternally  a  Alodern  Wood¬ 
man.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  Politically  he  has  ever  been  a  democrat, 
though  ever  caring  more  for  business  than  for 
politics.  He  is  a  man  of  good  address,  good 
habits,  and  good  standing.  Roth  Air.  and  Airs. 
Igo  are  well  received  wherever  known. 


208 


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BIOGRAPHIES. 


THEODORE  F.  DO\  E. 

Theodore  Frank'lin  Dove  was  bom  in  a  rural 
district  of  ( )hio,  about  nine  miles  from  the  city 
of  Lancaster,  the  date  of  his  birth  havin,£^  been 
April  22,  1846.  The  paternal  ancestry  was  Ger- 
nian,  but  his  father.  Elijah  Dove,  was  a  native  of 
the  lUickeye  state,  born  in  181  1.  and  one  of  the 
pioneer  tillers  of  its  soil,  while  his  mother,  nee 
!Mary  Small,  was  a  lady  of  Welsh  decent.  Theo¬ 
dore  F.  Dove  was  one  of  fifteen  children  born  to 
them,  he  haviii"  seven  brothers  and  seven  sisters, 
seven  of  them  older  and  seven  younsjer  than 
himself.  Reared  upon  the  home  farm,  and  in 
the  moderate  circumstances  common  to  the 
larg-e  families  of  early  settlers,  he  learned  in 
t'hildhood  and  youth,  lessons  of  industry  and 
economy  that  contributed  p^reatly  to  his  success 
in  later  years.  At  the  same  time  he  acrprired  an 
aptitude  and  taste  for  ajj’riculture  on  a  larjje 
scale  which  has  since  become  highly  develojred. 
.Meanwhile,  however,  he  has  develo])ed  many 
years  to  the  cultivation  of  his  mind  and  to  intel¬ 
lectual  work.  .-\t  the  age  of  twenty  he  had  only 
such  education  as  he  had  been  able  to  obtain  in 
the  district  schools  of  Ohio,  but  he  then  resolved 
to  supplement  it  with  academic  and  university 
study.  .Accordingly,  he  entered  an  academy  at 
Pleasantville,  Ohio,  where  he  advanced  so  well 
that  at  twenty-two  he  became  professor  of  mathe¬ 
matics  and  natural  i)hilosophv  in  the  institution, 
where  he  continued  to  teach  until  the  spring  of 
1869.  During  the  following  summer  he  was 
variously  employed,  always  to  the  end  of  increas¬ 
ing  the  facilities  for  higher  education,  and  in  the 
fall  he  entered  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Universitv  at 
Delaware.  Ohio,  where,  by  doing  double  work, 
he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  .A.  !>.  in  iSyr. 
.Subsequently  the  degree  of  .A.  AI.  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  his  alma  mater.  .After  leaving  col¬ 


lege  he  resinned  teaching,  and  devoted  a  consid¬ 
erable  portion  of  his  time  to  that  profession  until 
1876,  superintending  schools  at  West  Jefferson, 
Ohio,  from  1871  to  1872,  and  at  Mechanicsburg. 
( )hio.  from  1872  to  1874.  He  served  also  as 
superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Shelbyville,  Illi¬ 
nois,  during  the  two  years  prior  to  1876.  Mean¬ 
time  he  had  read  law.  and  in  1875  .i^ained  admit¬ 
tance  to  the  bar  at  Delaware.  ( )hio.  and  o])ened 
an  office  in  the  city  of  Columbus,  in  the  same 
state,  where  he  jiracticed  until  ( )ctober  16,  187O. 
Soon  afterwards  he  formed  a  jiartnershij)  with 
Hon.  \\  .  j.  Henry,  of  Danville.  Illinois,  and  in 
the  following  .Ajiril  the  firm  removed  to  Shelby¬ 
ville,  in  this  state,  where  it  continued  until  Xo- 
vember  12.  1879.  when,  by  mntnal  consent,  it  was 
dissolved.  .After  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of 
Henry  lA:  Dove,  our  subject  opened  an  office 
alone  and  met  with  phenomenal  success.  .Ad¬ 
vancing  at  once  to  the  front  rank  as  a  reliable 
counsellor  and  trustworthy  adviser,  he  has  al- 
Wc.ys  .sought  and  obtained  that  kind  of  legal  busi¬ 
ness  and  requires  sound  and  safe  advice  and 
management  rather  than  the  jietty  and  showy 
trial  branches  of  the  profession  ;  and  toilay  he  has 
one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  lucrative  practices 
enjoyed  by  any  lawyer  in  Central  Illinois.  His 
sound  judgment  and  his  ()uick  concejition  of  a 
business  proposition  have  contributed  greatly  to 
his  financial  success.  He  has  been  the  legal  ad¬ 
viser  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Shelby 
County  State  Hank  since  the  establishment  of 
that  institution  at  Shelbyville  in  1895,  and  was. 
likewise,  a  leading  sjiirit  in  its  organization.  On 
the  27th  day  of  December,  1877.  Air.  Dove  was 
united  m  marriage  to  Aliss  Alta  AA’.  Clark,  of 
Alechanicsburg,  Ohio,  a  graduate  of  the  Ohio 
AA'esleyan  Female  college  at  Delaware  and  a  lady 
of  general  culture  and  high  character.  She  died 
on  the  24th  of  Alay.  1896,  leaving  two  sons — 


209 


B/0(iRA/^H/ES. 


'I'licudore  C.,  and  I'ranklin  R.,  as>^ed  scvc'iiteen 
and  fourteen  years.  resi)eetively.  Tlie  elder  son 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Spanish-Aineriean  war,  early 
enlisting  in  Conii)any  K,  14th  ( )liio  Xational 
('luards — afterwards  know  n  as  the  4th  ( )hio. 
After  reinaininj^  one  month  in  cam])  at  Colmn- 
bns,  this  regiment  was  ordered  to  Chiekamanga. 
then  to  Norfolk.  \  irginia.  and  thence  to  I’orto 
Rico,  where  it  remained  until  discharged  from 
service.  ()n  june  16,  ujoo,  the  young  e.x-soldier 
and  his  brother,  who  is  known  as  Roy,  sailed  for 
l{uroi)e  with  the  intention- of  making  an  e.x- 
tended  tour  of  huigland  and  the  Continent  on 
the  bicycle.  'I'liis  i)lan  they  successfully  carried 
out.  and  at  the  present  time  have  returned  to 
their  studies  in  the  (  )hio  Wesleyan  I’niversity, 
where  they  e.xi)ect  to  com])lete  the  classical 
course,  the  one  in  two.  and  the  other  in  three 
vears.  To  return  to  our  immediate  subject — 
Theodore  Franklin  Dove  was  married  for  the 
second  time  on  August  25,  i8y8,  to  Miss  Mary 
llelle  Williams,  of  Columbus,  ()hio;  and  Mr. 
and  i\lrs.  Dove  are  now  pleasantly  domiciled  on 
their  fine  estate  in  the  city  of  Shelbyville,  Illi¬ 
nois.  The  experience  of  our  subject  has  helped 
to  verify  that  gratifying  assurance  of  Kmerson, 
that  whatever  we  earnestly  desire  in  youth  comes 
crowding  upon  us  in  later  years.  It  has  always 
been  an  ambition  of  Mr.  liove  to  become  the 
l)roi)rietor  of  extensive  and  valuable  farm  lands, 
and  today  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  largest 
land  owners  in  Shelby  county.  In  jtolitics  he  is 
a  democrat  of  the  Jacksonian  type,  and  has  but 
little  sympathy  with  coalitions  for  temporary 
success.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order 
and  belongs,  also,  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
-kmerica.  He  has  held  a  life-long  membershi]) 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  the  support 
of  wdiich  he  has  contributed  freely  of  his  means. 
Air.  Dove  is  a  devoted  and  self-sacrificing  friend 


(and  a  silent  foe),  and  his  hos])itable.  genial  na¬ 
ture.  together  with  his  family  and  church  en¬ 
vironment,  have  made  him  a  social  factor  in  the 
community  that  is  much  sought  and  enjoved. 

*  *  *  * 

JAM  ICS  I'OEK  r.ENXICTT. 

'I'he  curtain  which  hangs  between  us  and 
the  i)ast  of  our  family  history  seems  to  be  of  ex¬ 
ceedingly  frail  texture.  (  )nly  a  slight  ])ull  would 
be  needed  to  tear  it  aside  or  rend  it  in  twain. 
Alas  !  how  easy  it  is  to  be  deceived.  'I'he  cur¬ 
tain  may  be  thin  and  delicate,  but  the  greatest 
efforts  of  men  do  not  suffice  to  rend  it  or  draw 
it  aside,  'fheir  ancestry  is  shrouded  in  a  dim 
mist  dying  away  into  darkness  before  the  fourth 
generation  is  reached.  I  low  few  there  are  who 
can  speak  with  any  certainty  concerning  their 
great,  great  grandfather ;  yet  to  this  somewhat 
remote  ancestor,  we  must  go  for  our  beginning 
in  our  genealogical  and  biograi)hical  sketch  of 
James  P.  llennett.  This  grandfather,  twice 
"great,"  was  an  Englishman  possessed  of  wealth 
and  ambition.  His  attention  was  turned  to  this 
New  World,  and  in  it  he  saw  an  oj)i)ortunity  to 
increase  his  fortune.  He.  being  the  owner  of  a 
shi]),  fitted  it  out  as  a  trader,  and  came  with  his 
two  sons  to  .America.  He  loaded  his  vessel  with 
a  rich  cargo,  and  leaving  his  sons  here,  ])erha])s 
to  look  after  future  cargoes,  and  i)erha])s  to  seek 
their  ow  n  fortunes,  set  sail  for  England.  Neither 
the  enterprising  sailor  nor  his  shij)  were  ever 
heard  from  again.  Perhai)s  the  staunch  little 
trader  was  overwhelmed  in  a  storm,  and  today 
makes  one  of  the  great  number  which  sleep  u])on 
the  ocean's  bed  instead  of  gallantly  sailingits  sur¬ 
face  :  or,  it  may  be  that  the  crew  threw  the  mas¬ 
ter  and  owner  into  the  sea  and  ran  away  with  his 
vessel.  This  latter  view  is  ([uite  generally  held 
by  the  family. 


2  10 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


The  two  hoys  left  in  this  country,  soon  be¬ 
came  deeply  devoted  to  the  land  of  their  adop¬ 
tion  as  is  evidenced  by  the  fact,  they  foug'ht. 
side  by  side,  under  W  ashington,  in  the  great 
Kevolutionary  struggle.  One  of  these  brothers 
was  killed  during  the  war,  thus  baptising  the 
name  of  llennett  in  patriot  blood.  The  remain¬ 
ing  brother,  who  was  with  Washington  at  Vork- 
town,  when  the  haughty  Cornwallis  surrendered 
his  sword,  at  the  close  of  the  war  settled  in 
\'irginia.  To  him  were  given  three  sons;  Wil¬ 
liam.  Elisha  and  Richard.  Elisha  settled  in  Ken- 
tuc'ky  at  an  early  date,  while  W  illiam  and  Rich¬ 
ard  became  ])ioneers  in  Tennessee.  In  the  year 
1835,  Richard  came  to  this  state,  soon  after 
which  he  died,  leaving  a  widow  and  eight  child¬ 
ren,  six  of  whom  were  girls. 

How  singularly  are  families  broken  up  and 
scattered  !  A  mormon  elder  came  into  the  neigh¬ 
borhood  where  this  widow  resided,  conducted 
special  meetings,  and  made  many  converts, 
amongst  whom  she  was  one.  The  four  elder  chil¬ 
dren  in  the  family  did  not  embrace  the  new  faith  : 
hence  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  Mormon  c(m- 
verts  left  this  state,  the  widow  and  her 
four  younger  children  left  with  them. 
M'e  may  fairly  state  the  breaking  up 
and  final  separation  of  this  family  is 
but  a  sample  of  the  baneful  effects  of  Mormon- 
ism,  wherever  introduced.  William  Rennett, 
father  of  the  one  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  one  of  the  four  children  left  here  by  this 
mormonized  mother,  his  three  eldest  sisters  mak¬ 
ing  up  the  remainder  of  this  unfortunate  quartet. 

A.  I).  1838,  \\  illiam  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lavina  Curry.  To  them  were  born 
six  children — Hr.  R.  F.,  who  is  now  Superintend¬ 
ent  of  the  Insane  Asylum  at  Anna.  Illinois;  J. 
1’.,  of  whom  we  now  write,  a  resident  of  Shell) v- 
ville ;  R.  E. ;  W  .  A  and  Mesdames  H.  E.  Storm 


and  Preston  Colson,  all  of  whom  reside  upon 
farms  in  Ash  Grove  township.  Mr.  llennett.  the 
father  of  these  six  children,  is  84  years  of  age  ; 
but  is  still  in  excellent  health  and  in  full  i)osses- 
sion  of  all  bodily  and  mental  faculties.  It  is 
with  pleasure  that  he  talks  of  the  growth  of 
Shelby  county  under  the  vigorous  hand  of  her 
pioneers,  and  their  n  .mes  and  characteristics  are 
all  fresh  in  his  memory.  His  active  mind  vividly 
recalls  the  days  to  which  the  words  of  Longfel¬ 
low’s  immortal  hA-angeline  may  fittingly  apply  ; 

■■Neither  locks  had  they  to  their  doors,  nor  bars 

to  their  windows ; 

P.ut  their  dwellings  were  open  as  day.  and  the 

hearts  of  their  owners  ; 

There  the  richest  was  ])oor,  and  the  ])oor  lived 

in  abundance.  " 

'I'he  life  of  William  I’ennett  has  been  charac¬ 
terized  by  religious  devotion.  For  forty-seven, 
out  of  sixty-five  years  he  has  lived  in  Ash  Grove, 
he  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Christian  church.  The 
record  of  his  life  may  be  summed  u])  by  the  use 
of  this  epigram  ;  a  long  life  and  a  good  life. 

James  Polk  llennett  was  born  into  this 
world  on  the  24th  day  of  February,  1845.  His 
boyhood  days  were  spent  in  the  hardv  ])ursuits 
of  a  pioneer's  son.  His  educational  advantages 
were  meagre,  receiving,  only,  the  training  af¬ 
forded  by  a  district  school.  The  lessons  taught 
to  him  in  the  school  of  life  were  well  learned, 
and  with  the  coming  of  maturity’s  years,  we  find 
him  well  i)repared  to  make  his  way  to  the  heights 
of  business  success.  ( )u  the  4th  day  of  March, 
1866.  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\liss  Eliza¬ 
beth  Wilson,  a  granddaughter  of  ‘’Jackie"  Storm, 
the  first  Christian  i)reacher  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Rennett  received  from  his  father  the  gift  of 
forty  acres  of  unim])roved  land  ;  and,  fronr  his 
father-in-law.  the  gift  of  a  log  house.  He  cut  a 


2  1  I 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


road  tlirouj^h  tlie  l)rush,  on  the  forty  he  now 
called  his  own,  to  a  suitable  place  on  which  to 
erect  the  house  which  had  been  j^^iven  him.  The 
house  havinj>^  been  moved  and  set  up,  the  young 
wife  and  a  few  ])lain  necessaries  moved  in.  Mr. 
liennett  tied  his  team  to  his  wagon,  and  began 
clearing  his  land,  splitting  rails  to  fence  the 
same.  It  was  from  this  humble  beginning  as  a 
nucleus,  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  llennett  toiled  and 
economized  through  a  period  of  twenty-nine 
years,  and  at  last  gathered  about  them  a  com¬ 
fortable  competency,  consisting  of  more  than 
five  hundred  acres  of  good  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  I’.ennett  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children.  Laura,  the  eldest,  died  in  her 
2 1  St  vear.  besides  those  in  her  father's  family, 
she  left  a  husband  and  little  girl  (luta  Lemons) 
to  mourn  her  loss.  Miss  h'tta  is  still  in  her 
grandfather’s  home,  where,  ever  since  her 
mother’s  death,  she  has  received  kindly  and  pro¬ 
tecting  care.  Cora,  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  T.  1C 
Ridges,  a  respectable  farmer  of  .\sh  (irove; 
Oscar,  a  bright  and  genteel  young  man,  is  an 
able  assistant  in  the  abstract  office  of  Craig  & 
(faris ;  and  John  is  now  a  student  in  Decatur, 
Ill.  Two  boys  and  one  girl  were  taken  from 
the  home  in  their  infancy.  (hxl  oftentimes 
reaches  out  a  hand  of  love,  and  plucks  the 
brightest  and  sweetest  flowers  to  grace  his  own 
dwelling  place. 

Mr.  and  }ilrs.  Ilennett  both  united  with  the 
Christian  church  in  early  youth,  hence  their 
home  has  been  a  Christian  one.  Xo  greater 
tribute  can  be  paid  to  the  ])iety  of  these  i)arents, 

than  to  sav,  all  their  children  .  are  with  them 

,1 

united  in  the  visible  church  of  Christ.  In  poli¬ 
tics,  Air.  bennett  has  ever  been  a  republican, 
though  his  early  surroundings  were  entirely 
democratic. 

In  .August  of  1898.  Air.  bennett  and  wife  left 


their  farm  ;  since  which  they  have  lived  in  a  beau¬ 
tiful  home  of  their  own  in  the  city  jireviously 
mentioned.  W  ithout  attem])ting  any  fulsome  or 
flattering  jiraise,  we  can  truthfully  state,  their 
lives  had  been  without  a  disfiguring  scar.  Their 
circle  of  friends  is  large,  which  circle  is  the  only 
limit  that  circumscribes  the  respect  and  loving 
esteem  in  which  they  are  held. 

*  *  * 

TIIOAl.XS  b.  SllO-Al'K. 

( )ne  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Shelby- 
ville  today,  is  Thomas  b.  Shoaff.  editor  and 
manager  of  'I’he  Shelby  County  Leader.  He  is 
a  native  of  Creenville,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born 
on  the  23rd  of  I'ebruary.  1847.  His  parents 
were  James  and  Xancy  Shoaff.  liis  father  was 
a  news])aper  man  for  many  years,  and  from  him 
'I'liomas  inherited  his  journalistic  tendencies. 
Air.  Shoaff  was  ])ublisher  of  the  first  jiajter  in  the 
following  named  towns ;  Shelbyville,  (jreen- 
ville,  bloomington,  I’ekin,  and  Decatur,  and  was 
publishing  the  Kdgar  County  Cazette,  in  Paris, 
Illinois,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  .A])ril  12,  1874.  Airs.  Shoaff  is  the  daughter 
of  Dennis  Hanks,  who  was  a  cousin  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  and  was  at  one  time  a  tutor  of  the  boy 
"Abe."  Air.  Hanks  lived  to  the  ri])e  old  age  of 
ninety-six,  at  his  home  in  Charleston,  Illinois, 
by  these  genealogical  facts  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  third  cousin  of 
the  martyred  President. 

Thomas  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Decatur,  and  early  began  his  career 
as  a  journalist.  .\t  the  death  of  his  father,  he, 
together  with  his  eldest  brother,  continue.d  the 
l)ublication  of  The  Gazette  until  January  of  1881. 
Thomas  then  removed  to  Danville,  and  com¬ 
menced  the  publication  of  The  Danville  Leader. 


2  I  2 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


At  the  expiration  of  seven  years,  the  name  of  the 
l)aper  was  changed  to  The  Daily  Press,  and  Mr. 
Slioaff  eontinned  the  inanag’ement  of  it  untd 
Aut^ust.  1897.  He  was  then  made  manatjer  of 
T  he  Democrat,  of  that  city,  which  jmsition  he 
comijetently  filled  until  he  came  to  Shelhyville. 
Pebruarv  1.  igco.  and  took  charge  of  the  i)aper 
with  which  he  is  now  engagfed. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Shoafif  occurred  in 
I'ort  Wayne.  Indiana.  Xov.  15.  1871.  when  he 
was  united  to  Miss  Ella  \\  .  Lytle.  The  children 
horn  to  them  are  James.  Clare.  La  \’one  and 
Douglas  ShoafF.  all  of  whom  are  living  and  at 
home.  The  domestic  life  of  the  family  has  al¬ 
ways  been  of  the  bap])iest  and  the  children  arc 
of  such  as  any  parents  might  well  be  proud. 

During  the  Rebellion  Mr.  Sboaff  was  too 
young  to  enlist  as  a  regular  soldier,  but.  being 
eager  for  the  fray,  he  went  with  C.  K.  Griggs, 
sutler  of  the  25th  Illinois  \'ol.> 

Mr.  Shoaff  has  never  .sought  notoriety,  but 
has  led  -a  (puet.  unpretentious  life,  devoting  his 
time  to  the  management  and  o])eration  of  news- 
l)apers.  and  is  thoroughly  ac(|uainted  with  the 
art  preservative  in  all  its  details.  With  his  ca])- 
able  assistants  he  makes  of  The  Shelby  County 
Leader  one  of  tbe  most  readable  news])ai)ers  in 
this  part  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Shoaff  is  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  and  has.  with  his  estimable 
family,  the  respect  of  a  witle  circle  of  friends. 

V  V  V  ^ 

/ 

EIA'.IX  H.  MARTI  X. 

P>orn  in  Jersey.  Ohio.  June  5th.  1842:  the 
4th  son  of  Mark  D.  and  Julia  Martin.  His 
mother  died  March  4.  1846.  leaving  5  children — 
all  boys ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  lacked  three 
months  of  being  4  years  old.  He  found  a  borne 
with  his  grandiiarents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josiah  W. 


\\  ard.  where  he  remained  until  his  tenth  vear. 
His  father  taking  a  second  wife,  the  familv  was 
again  brought  together  at  the  home  in  Central 
College.  ( )hio. 

In  April.  {1858.  the  family  came  west  ami 
settled  in  Shelhyville.  Elgin  being  then  in  his 
16th  year.  He  attended  school  at  .Shelby  Semin¬ 
ary  until  tbe  family  went  on  a  farm  in  tbe  s])ring 
of  i860.  W  hen  the  war  broke  out  in  1861. 
Elgin’s  brother  Thaddeus  K..  two  years  older 
than  himself,  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist.  In  the 
fall — in  the  month  of  Xovember— that  brother's 
remains  were  brought  home  apd  buried  near 
where  the  family  lived.  In  March  another 
brother,  two  years  older  than  he  who  had  gone, 
took  the  dead  brother's  place  in  his  companv  and 
regiment,  and  a  month  later  was  severely  wound 
ed  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  was  fur¬ 
loughed  home.  In  July.  1862.  impelled  by  a 
sense  of  duty  to  bis  country,  and  not  from  any 
love  of  excitement  and  adventure,  h'lgin  en¬ 
listed  t  ml  became  a  sergeant  in  Co.  P.  of  tbe 
115th  Illinois  infantry.  The  regiment  had  its 
full  share  of  marching  and  fighting,  and  though 
fre(|uently  under  fire,  among  others  going 
through  the  sanguinary  battle  of  Chickamauga 
unscatbed.  tbough  bis  regiment  lost  nearly  half 
its  number  in  killed  and  wounded.  He  esca])cd 
being  touched  by  rebel  bullets  until  in  a  trivial 
skirmisb.  February  24.  1864.  in  front  of  Dalton. 
Ga..  he  received  a  tlesh  wound  in  his  good  right 
arm  and  for  seven  months  was  incapacitated  for 
duty  by  reason  of  gangrene  in  the  wound,  con¬ 
tracted  while  in  the  army  hosi)ital  at  Xashville. 
Tenn.  Four  of  the  seven  months  were  ])assed  at 
home  on  furlough,  .\fter  returning  to  duty,  be¬ 
ing  unable  to  carry  a  musket  be  was  detailed  first 
as  orderly  for  Capt.  Slocum,  who  was  on  detach¬ 
er  service  in  Chattanooga.  Tenn..  and  later  was 
given  command  of  the  jwovost  guard  of  "M’hit- 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


taker's  Iron  l^ri^ijade,"  i.st  i’.rigade.  ist  Division, 
Fourth  Cor])s,  Army  of  llic  Cinnl)crland.  wliicli 
l)osition  he  held  until  niuster-out  in  June,  1865. 

Returnin'^  home,  -Mr.  Martin  for  a  season 
resumed  his  studies  at  Shelby  Seminary,  then  as 
])reviously,  under  the  manag'ement  of  Mr.  C.  W. 
Jerome,  who  had  served  as  (juartermaster  (jf  the 
115th  regiment.  lie  afterward — in  1866 — went 
south  and  for  two  years  acted  as  salesman  and 
collector  for  his  uncle,  I).  C.  Martin,  who  con¬ 
ducted  a  supply  store  in  Fort  Hudson,  Da.  -Mr. 
-Martin  returned  north  in  the  early  winter  of 
1868,  and  took  a  position  pressed  ui)on  him  hy 
his  brother,  Dark  T.,  as  local  editor  of  'I'he  Shel- 
hyville  L'nion.  'I'liis  ])osition  he  held  until  the 
siM'ing  of  1872,  when  he  stahlished  The  Re])ul)li- 
can  in  Kffinj>ham,  which  about  a  year  later  was 
sold,  when  the  founder  returned  to  Shelhyville 
and  resumed  his  place  on  The  l'nion,  which  was 
held  until  i8yo,  with  the  exception  of  about  a 
vear  si)ent  in  Troy,  X.  V.,  and  Carhondale,  Ilk, 
workiiif^  at  the  case  as  a  printer. 

W  hile  editinj*-  The  l’nion  he  was  instrumen¬ 
tal  in  the  orj^anization  of  the  first  loan  associa¬ 
tion  in  Shelhyville,  and  when  a  few  years  later 
he  felt  that  there  was  a  disi)osition  to  run  the 
association  in  the  interests  of  the  officers  and  di¬ 
rectors  rather  than  the  stockholders,  he  initiated 
a  movement  that  crystalized  in  the  organization 
of  The  L-al)orers'  Loan,  yet  a  potent  factor  in  the 
building  u])  of  Shelhyville.  In  1886,  co-operat¬ 
ing  with  his  brother,  Horace  L.,  he  established 
The  daily  edition  of  The  Union,  which  he  edited 
until  April,  i8yo;  he  was  appointed  ])o.stmaster. 
serving  in  that  capacity  until  September,  1897. 
Since  September,  1898,  he  has  been  his  brother 
Harry  M’s,  assistant  as  postmaster. 

Se])tember  11,  1872,  Mr.  Martin  was  mar¬ 
ried  to  Miss  Matie  P.  Sylvester,  of  Saratoga 
countv,  Xew  York.  Mrs.  iMartin  was  the  only 


daughter  of  Partlett  and  Sarah  F.  Sylvester,  and 
was  born  November  17th,  1851,  in  (ireenfield, 
Saratoga  county.  She  was  educated  m  James- 
ville  .\cademy,  jamesville,  -\.  V.,  and  came  west 
in  1868  to  visit  relatives  and  here  met  him  with 
whom  later  she  was  joined  in  marriage.  1  ler 
family  removed  to  Shelhyville  in  1872,  but  re¬ 
turned  to  \'ork  state  a  year  later. 

Six  children  have  been  born  to  them — five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Five  are  still  living — 
one  is  not— Harry  S.  The  eldest  was 
killed  by  the  cars.  .\])ril  9.  1891,  aged  17  years. 

-Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  have  long  been  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Methodist  Fpiscojial  church  and 
have  always  been  active  in  Sunday  school  and 
church  work.  .\t  ])reseut  and  for  a  number  of 
years  he  has  held  license  as  a  local  jireacher.  Po¬ 
litically  he  has  always  been  a  republican,  though 
never  a  bitter  partizan,  and  hence  numbers 
among  his  friends  many  men  of  all  parties. 

*  *  •  *  * 

F-R\’1X  HO-MRKHIOUS. 

In  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  on  the  28th  day 
of  March,  1836,  the  home  of  John  and  Magda¬ 
lene  (W'agner)  Homrighous  was  gladdened  by 
the  birth  of  the  son,  whose  name  heads  this  bio- 
graithica!  survey.  The  home  into  which  Ervin 
was  born  was  a  well-to-do  and  thrifty  one.  The 
father  followed  the  calling  of  an  undertaker  or  as 
it  was  more  fre(|uently  termed  in  an  early  day,  a 
coffin-maker.  So  prosperous  and  contented  with 
his  business  was  Mr.  Homrighous,  that  he 
seemed  wholly  unaffected  by  the  si)irit  of  emigra¬ 
tion  which  poured  its  constant  stream  of  civiliza¬ 
tion  into  the  prairie  region  of  the  middle  west. 
The  marked  degree  to  which  this  statement  is 
true,  can  best  be  appreciated  when  it  is  further 
stated,  he  lived  and  died  within  one  and  one-half 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


miles  of  the  i)lace  of  liis  birth  ;  and.  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  was  the  oldest  undertaker  in  the 
L'nited  States.  The  hoy  Ervin  received  a  com¬ 
mon  school  education  in  his  native  villaj^e  of 
Royalton,  tog’ether  with  an  industrial  education 
in  his  father's  shop. 

.\t  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  Mr.  Hom- 
righous  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
.Allen,  a  young  woman  of  his  native  town  ;  and. 
judging  hy  the  step  almost  immediately  taken  by 
this  young  couple,  she  was  a  girl  of  pluck,  as 
well  as  grace.  Their  decision  was  made  to  seek 
for  themselves  a  home  farther  west.  .According¬ 
ly,  equipped  with  a  two-horse  team,  and  the 
usual  outfit  of  a  home-seeker,  this  young  bride 
and  groom  journeyed,  for  their  bridal  tour,  in  a 
westerly  direction  for  twelve  and  one-half  days, 
until  they  reached  the  rich  and  fecund  prairies  of 
Shelby,  where  they  determined  to  make  their 
home.  It  was  during  this  long  and  tedious  drive 
that  Mr.  Homrighous  had  an  e.K])erience  which 
he  will  never  forget.  There  was  no  other  way 
than  to  sto])  wherever  night  overtook  the 
"mover."  Hence  it  often  hapi)ened  that  accom¬ 
modations  were  meagre  and  unsatisfactory 
enough.  Resides  this,  "movers"  were  regarded 
as  a  nuisance  and  common  prey  for  all.  Many 
thefts  and  baser  crimes  were  daily  i)er]K'trated 
u])on  the  pioneer  home-seekers ;  and.  for  the 
most  ])art,  wholly  escai)ed  ])unishment.  It  was 

only  hv  rare  insight  into  human  character,  or  a 
"  "  / 

direct  presentiment,  that  Air.  Homrighous  on  a 
certain  night,  while  cpiartered  with  an  Indiana 
settler,  took  unusual  precautionary  measures 
which  resulted  in  his  protection  against  burglary 
or  perhaps  some  worse  e.xperience.  Ry  such 
scenes  we  are  reminded  of  Carleton’s  words: 

I 

"It  aint  the  funniest  thing  a  man  can  do. 

Existing  in  a  country  when  it's  new, 

Aly  girl  wife  was  brave  as  she  was  good. 

.And  heli)ed  me  in  every  blessed  way  she  could." 


There  were  horn  to  this  cou])le  four  chil¬ 
dren,  all  of  whom  are  still  living.  John  H.  is  the 
first-born,  and  is  a  successful  dentist  in  Alattoon. 
Ill.  Alilo  F.  took  for  a  wife  Aliss  Dora  Lever¬ 
ing.  of  Shelby ville.  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Tus¬ 
cola.  Ill.,  where  he  is  engaged  as  a  money  broker. 
Aleta  Al..  the  only  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  (leo. 
I’enwell.  a  native  of  Shelby  ville.  hut  who  now 
resides  in  Eureka.  Kan.  Frank,  the  voungest 
son.  married  Aliss  Clarie  Day.  of  Aloweacpia. 
and  is  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  in  As¬ 
sumption.  Ill. 

For  seven  years  Air.  and  Airs.  Homrighous 
lived  on  a  farm,  during  much  of  which  time  he 
was  engaged  in  mechanical  ])ursuits.  In  the 
year  1S65.  they  moved  to  Shelhyville,  where  he 
engaged  in  mercantile,  and  afterwards  in  manu¬ 
facturing  business,  which  was  continued  until  A. 
1).  18H0.  In  the  year  nSyo.  Air.  Homrighous  was 
bereft  of  the  wife  who  had  been  the  sharer  of  his 
early  struggles  and  successes.  In  .A])ril.  oSji. 
he  took  another  helpmeet  in  the  person  of  Aliss 
hjsther.  daughter  of  David  H.  and  Samantha 
(Carver)  I’enwell.  of  Shelhyville.  who  is  his  much 
res])ected  present  wife. 

Two  sons  have  blessed  this  union,  Charles 
1)..  and  Robert.  The  elder  of  these.  Charles,  is 
wedded  to  Aliss  Alay  Cones,  of  Shelhvville.  and 
is  a  ])ros])erous  jeweler  in  Tuscola.  111.,  while 
Robert,  a  bright  young  man  of  good  and  gentle¬ 
manly  manners,  is  the  able  assistant  in  his 
father's  store. 

In  the  year  1880.  Air.  Homrighous  bought 
out  the  jewelry  business  conducted  hv  Patrick 
Alitchel.  where  Rolinger's  grocerv  now  stands. 
Four  years  later,  he  built  the  handsenne  store 
where  he  now  conducts  his  lucrative  and  suc¬ 
cessful  business. 

Perhaps  no  other  single  distinguishing  fea¬ 
ture  of  Air.  Homrighous  is  so  marked  as  his 
musical  ability.  He  has  a  voice  of  singular 


215 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


])()\vcr  and  penetration.  For  more  than  a  dozen 
of  years  he  has  l)een  a  ineinher  of  the  Four 
(piartet.  Tlie  efficient  work  of  this  (piartet  has 
been  felt  in  three  presidential  campaif^ns,  as  is 
attested  hy  the  fact  that  their  services  have 
been  in  demand  in.  all  ])arts  of  the  state. 

.Mr.  Homrif^hons,  with  the  cxce])tion  of  two 
years,  has  been  the  leader  of  the  choir  of  the 
h'irst  M.  F.  chnrch  since  1866.  Not  only  has  he 
been  ])resent  on  the  Lord’s  Day.  and  prominent 
occasions  to  direct  the  sin^injj,  but,  we  note  with 
])leasure,  a  chorister  whose  voice  is  heard  in  the 
])rayer-meetin5.;^  and  Sunday  school. 

(  )f  one  who  was  trnly  jyreat.  it  is  said  ;  ■‘John 
did  no  miracle."  So.  of  the  life  whose  record  we 
have  i)enned,  we  claim  no  miracle,  but  ])oint  out 
the  truth — a  life  lived  in  Christ  is  ”’reat  in  possi¬ 
bility,  intluence  and  destiny.  Such  is  the  life  of 
ICrvin  llomri^hous. 


WILLI.AM  C.  KKLLHY. 

In  attem])ting  to  write  the  biof^ra])hy  of  such 
a  man  as  .\ttorney  \Vm.  C.  Kelley,  we  realize, 
more  than  ever,  the  futility  of  mere  words  in  de¬ 
lineating  truthfully  the  life  of  the  man.  It  is  the 
character  which  makes  man.  There  is  a  ])lace 
of  mere  achievement,  but  it  cannot  be  substituted 
for  the  higher  place  of  intellectual,  moral  and 
spiritual  growth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has 
reached  the  higher  plane.  lUit  then — Mr.  Kelley 
is  of  such  a  modest  and  retiring  disposition  we 
refrain  from  any  more  eulogy  in  this  connection, 
though  it  be  well-merited. 

( )n  a  farm  in  Rural  township,  of  this  county, 
Mr.  Kelley  was  born,  July  31.  1849.  He  was 
the  son  of  Chattin  Kelley,  who  died  in  Sweet 
Springs.  iMissouri,  in  1898,  and  Elizabeth  (Smith) 
Kelley,  who  died  in  this  city  in  1865.  When 
W  illiam  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  the 


family  removed  to  Shelbyville,  of  which,  after¬ 
ward,  the  father  was  mayor  for  three  successive 
terms,  and  was  prominent  among  the  citizens  of 
the  place. 

Mr.  Kelley  received  the  beginning  of  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  later  taking 
a  course  of  study  in  the  Okaw  Seminary.  In 
1868.  he  went  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  en¬ 
tered  upon  a  four  years’  classical  course,  and 
was  graduated  with  honors  at  the  expiration  of 
the  .same.  In  1874  he  began  reading  law  with 
judge  Antlumy  'I'hornton  ami  Oeorge  R. 
Wendling,  who  were  then  partners.  Two  years 
later  he  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar. 

.\  few  months  subseciuent  to  this,  or  on  De¬ 
cember  2,  1876,  he  took  a  ])artner  for  life  in  the 
]K“rson  of  .Miss  .\ntha  1).  Harper,  of  Tower  llill. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  .\.  \’.  and  .Ann  IL  T. 
liar|)er.  the  latter  of  whom  now  lives  in  Chica¬ 
go.  Three  children  have  blessed  the  union,  viz: 
llessic,  who  died  in  1892,  when  but  fourteen 
years  of  age.  just  when  her  life  was  blossoming 
into  that  which  j)romised  to  be  a  beautiful,  noble 
character.  Her  death  was  the  kind  that  uplifts 
mankind,  and  turns  one’s  thoughts  to  holy 
things;  William  Lloyd  was  born  July  27,  1887. 
and  is  a  hapijy-hearted,  sunny-tempered  lad, 
with  an  impiiring  disposition,  who  bids  fair  to 
emulate  his  father’s  example :  and  Leo  Harper, 
a  beautiful  child,  born  December  29.  1897.  The 
home  life  of  Mr.  Kelley  is  ])leasant  in  the  ex¬ 
treme.  He  possesses  a  large  library  of  miscellan¬ 
eous  character,  though  of  the  better  class  of 
literature,  and  being  of  a  naturally  studious  dis¬ 
position.  Mr.  Kelley  thoroughly  enjoys  his 
books  and  his  home  life,  never  so  happy  as  when 
seated  by  a  glowing  fire,  with  his  wife  and  chil¬ 
dren  about  him. 

In  May,  1877.  Mr.  Kelley  formed  a  law 
l)artnership  with  H.  S.  Alouser,  who  afterward 
went  to  Dakota.  In  1880.  he  was  elected  State's 


DR.  O.  O.  WHITTINGTON.  DR.  THKODOKE  THOMPSON. 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


Attorney,  and  so  acceptably  did  he  perform  the 
duties  of  the  office,  that  Ins  constituents  re¬ 
elected  him  in  1884.  He  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  receiving,  in  this  election,  the  largest  major¬ 
ity  of  votes  over  his  opponent  ever  received  in 
this  county,  running  several  hundred  ahead  of 
his  ticket.  Since  the  expiration  of  his  second 
term  as  said  attorney.  Mr.  Kelley  has  occupied 
no  other  piiblic  office. 

In  Xovember.  1892.  a  partnership  was 
formed  with  Howland  J.  Hamlin,  now  .\ttorney 
General  of  Illinois,  which  alliance  still  exists. 
There  is  extensive  mention  of  Mr.  Kelley  in  the 
chapter  on  "The  liar,”  in  this  volume,  so  we  for¬ 
bear  making  further  comment  on  him  in  this 
connection. 

\\  ith  his  wife  and  son.  Lloyd,  Mr.  Kelley  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  is  faithful 
in  his  attendance  and  support  of  divine  worshij). 
For  some  time  he  has  been  elder  in  that  church. 

THEODORE  THOMPSOX. 

"The  truest  test  of  civilization  is  not  the 
census,  nor  the  size  of  the  cities,  nor  the  crojis ; 
no.  but  the  kind  of  man  the  country  turns  out." — 
Emerson. 

The  successful  young  man  whose  name  ap¬ 
pears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  son 
of  .\lton  and  Matilda  (Marshall)  Thompson, 
both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  are  natives  of  the 
"Kevstone"  state,  coming  to  this  county  in  the 
year  1859,  and  1866.  respectively.  To  them 
have  been  born  three  other  children,  Lida,  who 
is  the  wife  of  James  Marshall,  an  electrician  at 
Xiagara  Ealls,  Xew  York  :  Gardner  M..  who  at 
the  present  time  is  a  student  in  the  law  depart¬ 
ment  of  the  L’niversity  of  Michigan,  and  whose 
course  is  complete  with  the  present  school  year : 
and  Rav  C.,  who  is  still  at  home. 


Theodore  was  born  at  Prairie  Home.  Illi¬ 
nois.  on  the  first  day  of  Xovember.  1872.  His 
boyhood  life  was  spent  u])on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  to  hard  labor  he  is  certainly  not  a  stranger; 
but.  amid  the  exacting  duties  of  farm  life,  oppor¬ 
tunity  was  found  for  study.  The  boy  had  a 
thirst  for  knowledge:  and  be  it  stated  to  the 
credit  of  the  parents,  they  too  cherished  fond 
educational  ambitions  for  their  son.  There  seems 
to  have  been  an  understanding  of  Theodore  with 
himself  and  with  his  ])arents  that  he  should  de¬ 
vote  his  life  to  the  study  and  jwactice  of  medicine. 
W  hile  yet  in  his  17th  year,  this  boy,  who  was 
destined  to  rise  beyond  the  confining  environs  of 
farm  life,  entered  the  school  at  Xormal.  Illinois, 
and  completed  in  eleven  terms  the  work  retjuired 
in  twelve.  This  he  was  able  to  accomplish  by 
reading  his  Caesar  during  vacation  time,  while 
driving  a  team  u])on  the  farm  at  home,  and  re¬ 
citing  that  which  he  read  to  a  local  Presbyterian 
minister.  He  also  read  Homer  out  of  school, 
successfully  passed  the  examinations  on  the 
same  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  '94. 

In  the  fall  of  i8(;4,  Mr.  Thomji.son  entered 
the  Rush  Medical  college,  of  Chicago,  as  a  fresh¬ 
man.  lint  again,  his  studious  habits,  when  out 
of  school,  were  to  stani])  their  ap])roval  ui)on  his 
work.  He  read  bacteriology,  biology  and  re¬ 
lated  subjects,  between  the  semesters :  passed 
the  recpiired  examinations  and  received  credit 
for  this  work,  thus  com])leting  in  three  years  the 
full  four  years’  course.  The  year  previous  to  his 
graduation,  he  was  one  of  four  in  a  class  of 
twenty  comj)eting  students  who  were  licensed  to 
l)ractice  medicine.  Packed  by  a  determined  pur¬ 
pose  and  a  good  character,  and  assisted  bv  the 
a])pliances  of  the  modern  world,  what  sublime 
coiKjuests  are  o])en  to  the  youth  of  this  age ! 

On  .8e])tember  18th.  1895.  Mr.  Thomjason 
was  united  in  marriage  with  iMiss  Harriett  L. 


2  1 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Carnahan,  of  Chicago.  To  them  was  l)orn  one 
child.  Melva  Marie,  who  died  in  infancy. 

“(  )li,  not  in  crnelty.  not  in  wratli, 

1'he  reaj)er  came  that  day ; 

’Twas  an  angel  visited  the  green  earth. 

And  took  the  dower  away." 

Immediately  after  graduation  from  the  med¬ 
ical  college.  Mr.  Thompson  began  the  ])ractice 
of  medicine  in  the  city  t)f  Shelbyville.  and  todax' 
has  a  very  satisfactory  and  increasing  i)ractice. 
During  the  year  1898.  Dr.  Thompson  was  coun¬ 
ty  physician,  which  duties  he  satisfactcjrily  dis¬ 
charged.  That  he  is  a  progressive  and  ui)-to-date 
man  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  is  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  state,  district  and  national  medical  so¬ 
cieties.  Dr.  Thom])Son  is  regarded  by  his  fel¬ 
low  practitioners  and  the  general  public,  as  a 
cai)able  i)hysician  and  a  courteous  Christian  gen¬ 
tleman.  Politically,  the  doctor  states  with  some 
degree  of  pride,  he  is  of  genuine  republican  stock 
;md  has  ever  voted  with  that  party. 

^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  are  active  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  are  held  in 
loving  esteem  by  the  entire  community. 

^  V  'i»  V 

A  P,  R A  M  M  1 1)  1 )  L ICvSW't )  RT  H . 

Honored  and  res])ected  by  all.  there  is  not  a 
man  in  the  commercial  or  financial  circles  of 
v^helbv  county  who  occuiiies  a  more  enviable 
position  than  Mr.  Middlesworth.  not  alone  be¬ 
cause  of  the  success  he  has  achieved,  but  also  on 
account  of  the  honorable,  straightforward  busi¬ 
ness  policy  he  has  ever  followed.  He  ])ossesses 
untiring  energy,  is  (piick  of  jierceiition, ■  forms 
his  plans  readily,  and  is  determined  in  their  exe¬ 
cution,  and  his  close  application  to  business  and 
his  excellent  management  have  brought  to  him 
the  high  degree  of  success  which  today  is  his. 


]\lr.  Middlesworth  is  the  worthy  and  effi¬ 
cient  president  of  the  First  National  liank  ofShel- 
byville.  a  position  of  trust  to  which  he  was 
elected  in  1877,  and  the  duties  of  which  he  has 
performed  with  signal  success  and  ability. 

A  native  of  h'airfield  county.  ( )hio.  he  was 
born  ten  miles  southwest  of  Lancaster,  on  the 
loth  of  November,  1821.  He  was  the  son  of 
.\braham  Middlesworth,  and  the  grandson  of 
John  and  Martha  Middlesworth,  who  came  from 
hhigland  sometime  during  the  last  century  and 
first  located  in  New  jersey,  but  afterward  re¬ 
moved  to  Snyder  county.  Pennsylvania,  where 
Mr.  .Middlesworth  died. 

.  .\braham  was  born  in  the  Pennsylvania 
home,  and  remained  in  faithful  service  on  his 
father’s  farm  until  he  reached  his  twenty-first 
year.  In  that  year  he  shouldered  his  rifle,  and 
with  his  entire  belongings  in  a  bundle  which  he 
carried  on  his  back,  he  walked  the  whole  distance 
to  h'airfield  county,  (  )hio.  Here  he  entered  upon 
the  trade  of  a  coojier,  and  by  steady  labor  and 
close  economy  he  was  enabled  to  lay  aside  a 
sum  of  money  sufficient  to  purchase  a  tract  of 

timber  land  southwest  of  Lancaster.  Here 

* 

he  married  and  lived  for  years  in  a  little  log 
cabin  on  this  ])roperty.  He  carried  on  (juite  ex¬ 
tensive  siieculations  in  land,  bux  ing  it  in  its  wild 
state,  and  after  inpiroving  it  would  sell  it  for  a 
satisfactory  advance  over  the  purchase  price.  It 
was  in  the  log  cabin  s])oken  of  above,  that 
.\bram,  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born. 

In  .\])ril,  1840,  the  family  left  the  home  in 
( )hio  and  came  to  Shelby  county,  Mr.  Middles¬ 
worth  riding  with  his  wife  in  a  carriage,  while 
.Abram  drove  a  five-horse  team,  riding  one  and 
driving  the  others  with  a  single  line.  1  lere  a 
large  tract  of  land,  including  the  farm  then 
owned  by  Benjamin  Waldron,  Sr.,  was  ])ur- 
chased.  Two  log  houses  and  twenty  acres  of 
cleared  land  were  the  only  improvements,  and 


218 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


this  was  known  by  the  name  of  "Waldron's  Ihfj 
Field."  From  the  time  of  his  entrance  into  the 
eonntv,  Mr.  Middlesworth  was  closely  identified 
with  ao'ricnltnral  im])rovements  of  this  section, 
until  his  death  in  1847,  leavinji;'  a  name  lon^  to 
he  cherished  and  remembered  by  those  who 
knew  him.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Farhara  Feathers,  an  estimable  lady  of  ('icrman 
descent. 

In  the  days  in  which  .\bram  Middlesworth 
was  a  bov,  the  o])i)ortunities  of  reeeivinj^  an  edn- 
cation  were  very  meatier  indeed,  and  for  only  a 
few  months  dnriii"  the  winters  was  he  in  school, 
lint  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  those  early  days, 
with  a  seareitv  of  schools,  and  when  instruction 
was  ^iven  in  only  the  "'riiree  R’s"  in  the  schools 
which  did  e.xist,  were  ever  |)roduetive  of  the 
keenest  intellects  and  brit^lUest  minds  ;  and  w  hen 
one  knows  .Mr.  Middlesworth,  he  can  readily  be¬ 
lieve  it  was  not  so  j^reat  an  intellectual  misfor¬ 
tune  after  all.  to  have  been  a  boy  in  those  early 
days,  and  also  that  education  cometh  not  alone 
from  the  ])""es  of  books  and  from  the  school 
room. 

.\ftcr  cominj>'  from  ( )hio  to  Shelby  county 
in  1840.  .Abram,  with  his  brother,  manai^ed  his 
father’s  lar^e  farm  for  a  number  of  years.  lie 
then  received  from  his  father  a  tract  of  land  in 
Tower  Hill  township,  upon  which  he  settled  after 
his  marriage,  which  im])ortant  event  occurred  on 
January  28,  1847.  lie  was  married  to  Miss 
Flizabeth  J.  T.  ('loodwin.  a  maiden  of  this  coun¬ 
ty.  and  dautjhter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Donnell 
Cioodwin,  who  were  prominent  amontjst  the 
early  pioneers  of  Shelby. 

Subsetpient  to  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war, 
-Mr.  Midlesworth  purchased  a  threat  many  land 
tyrants  from  returned  soldiers,  who  had  received 
them  from  the  government  in  payment  of  their 
military  services.  In  this  way,  he  actpiired 
about  2.500  acres  of  land,  and  still  ])ossesses  a 


"oodly  jjortion  of  it.  eontinuinj^  the  manat^ement 
of  his  fine  farms  from  his  eitv  home.  Duriii”;  the 
years  ne  sjtcnt  u])on  his  farm,  he  did  not  confine 
his  attention  tit  purely  at^ricultural  ])ursuits  or 
the  accumulation  of  real  estate,  but  eni^ai^ed  ex¬ 
tensively  in  buyiii”'  hosifs  and  cattle  for  the 
markets  of  St.  Louis  and  Xew  ^'ork  City,  re- 
sjtectively.  In  1870,  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Shelbyville.  Seven  years  later,  as  has  been  inti¬ 
mated  already,  he  was  made  president  of  the 
First  National  bank,  one  of  the  oldest  as  well  as 
one  of  the  safest  monetary  institutions  in  this 
section  of  the  country. 

•Mr.  and  .Mrs.  .Middlesworth  were  the  par¬ 
ents  of  thirteen  children,  seven  sons  and  six 
daui^hters.  only  five  of  whom  are  now  livni”'. 
(  )f  those  who  have  passed  on  before,  (leort^e. 
the  second  son,  died  in  1867;  h'rank  died  in  1884. 
leaving;  two  beautiful  dauj^hters.  who  now  make 
their  home  with  their  aunt.  .Mrs.  II.  .M.  Scar- 
borouj^h.  and  are  attendinj^  .school;  Dexter  died 
in  1888,  and  the  others  before  their  infant  lives 
had  blossomed  into  youth.  (  )f  the  livint^,  James 
Ci.  owns  a  valuable  farm  two  and  one-half  miles 
from  Shelbyville.  and  resides  upon  the  .same.  He 
was  recently  bereft  of  his  loved  and  cherished 
wife.  John  W.  is  also  a  farmer,  thouijh  he  lives 
in  the  city.  \\  illiam  S.  is  the  poi)ular  assistant 
cashier  of  the  bank  of  which  his  father  is  presi¬ 
dent.  is  married  and  maintains  a  comfortable 
home  in  Shelbyville.  -Sarah  15.  Ward  is  one  of 
the  daughters  of  Mr.  Middlesworth,  and  the 
other.  Isabelle,  is  the  wife  of  Col.  H.  M.  Scar¬ 
borough.  .-Mter  thirty-seven  years  of  conjuj^al 
felicity.  Mr.  .Middlesworth  was.  in  Februarv  of 
1884.  bereft  of  the  one  who  had  been  the  jjartner 
of  his  early  hopes  and  the  success  of  his  later 
years,  and  who  was.  with  him,  held  in  e.xceediu”' 
hi^^h  esteem  by  their  wide  circle  of  friends.  The 
sad  record  made  in  1884,  was  six  deaths  in  the 
Middlesworth  famil\-  in  eleven  months  of  that 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


year.  Since  the  death  of  liis  wife,  who  was  a 
ladv  of  rare  sweetness  of  dis])osition  and  l)cauty 
of  character,  Mr.  Middlesworth  has  made  liis 
liome  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Scarhoronj^h. 

Toliticallv,  Mr.  Middlesworth  comes  from 
j.^ennine  old  \\  hijj  stock,  and  has  been  an  ardent 
Republican  since  the  incei)tion  of  that  party. 
Since  he  has  attained  his  majority,  he  has  ever 
taken  a  deej)  interest  in  all  issues  placed  before 
the  people  by  the  parties,  has  carefully  considered 
them  and  always  cast  his  vote  and  influence  upon 
the  side  which  he  deemed  ri}.>ht.  His  rei)ublican 
affiliation  is  a  matter  of  pride  with  him. 

Since  1S77,  Mr.  Middlesworth  has  l)een  an 
active  and  valued  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  has  not  been  a  mere  "hearer  of  tlte 
word,"  but  also  a  "doer  of  the  word,”  and  by  his 
life,  has  <;iven  to  the  commnnity  an  exam])le  of 
piactical  Christianity.  i’romineiit  amon^  his 
"generous  and  i)hilanthropic  deeds  is  the  dona¬ 
tion  of  his  beautiful  homestead  to  the  Children’s 
Home  and  Aid  Society,  in  the  early  ])art  of  the 
current  year.  As  this  ,tjift  is  spoken  of  at  lens^th 
under  the  head  of  "Institutions,"  we  refrain  from 
addintj  more  about  it  here. 

Mr.  Middlesworth  is  a  very  sociable,  cour¬ 
teous  o'entleman,  one  whom  it  is  a  i)leasure  to 
know.  He  is  nearin.y;  the  "borderland,"  and 
when  called  upon  to  ])ass  over  will  leave  a  vacant 
place  in  the  hearts  of  his  friends  and  in  the  com¬ 
mercial  wcndd  which  will  be  difficult  to  fill. 


WALLACE  E.  WALKER. 

In  the  amtals  of  Shelby  county  history,  there 
is,  doubtless! V,  no  man  who  stands  higher  in  the 
esteem,  or  enjovs,  to  a  greater  degree,  the  con¬ 
fidence  of  his  fellows,  nor  whose  genuine  worth 
is  more  universally  ai)])reciated,  than  Wallace  E. 
Walker.  He  is  one  whose  pure  business  i)rinci- 


])les,  integrity  of  purpose,  and  genial,  though 
gentlemanly,  bearing  have  secured  for  him  a 
status,  than  which  there  is  a  no  more  enviable 
one. 

( )n  a  fertile  farm  in  Rush  county,  Indiana, 
Mr.  W’alker  was  born,  on  July  14,  1H45. 
was  the  youngest  child  of  .Alexander  and 
.Melinda  Walker,  who,  .some  years  since,  laid 
them  down  in  their  last  sleep.  'I'he  maiden  name 
of  .Mrs.  Walker,  whose  death  occurred  in  1869, 
was  .Melinda  Cann.  .Mr.  Walker  was.  for  many 
years,  recognized  as  one  of  the  substantial  farm¬ 
ers  of  Rush  county,  afterward  enjoying  the 
same  distinction  in  Shell)y  county,  to  which  he 
removed  in  .\|)ril  of  1851,  and  where  his  demise 
occurred  thirty-two  years  later.  Two  other  chil¬ 
dren  were  born  to  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker;  the 
first  being  a  daughter,  born  in  1828,  who,  in 
1844,  was  married  to  William  15.  Laughlin,  and 
now  resides  in  Snllivan.  Illinois,  where  Air. 
Laughlin  died  about  twelve  years  ago.  The 
other  was  a  son.  born  in  1829.  and  who  died 
when  twenty-three  years  of  age  in  Shclbyville, 
where  he  was  at  the  time  engaged  in  the  study 
of  law. 

Wallace  IC.  received  his  schooling  in  the 
home  district,  in  \\  ind.sor  township,  a  mile  and 
a  half  north  of  the  village  of  that  name.  .As  he 
became  of  sufficient  age  and  stature,  he  followed 
agricultural  ])ursuits,  and  continued  in  the  same 
until  the  fall  of  1886,  when  he  received  very  posi¬ 
tive  evidence  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him 
bv  the  ctiizens  of  Shelby,  in  being  elected  as 
treasurer  of  the  county,  a  confidence  further  sub¬ 
stantiated  by  the  honor  again  being  conferred 
in  the  election  of  1894,  after  an  interim  of  four 
years ;  during  which  intervening  time,  he  engag¬ 
ed  in  the  business  of  buying  and  selling  stock, 
and  also  assisted  his  successor  in  the  treasurer's 
office.  Prior  to  his  election  to  the  treasury,  Air. 
Walker  had  served  the  township  of  Windsor  as 


2  20 


DK.  WILLIAM  I.  KDDY.  WALLACK  E.  WALKER. 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


supervisor  for  four  years,  and  had  also  been  clerk 
of  the  township  for  a  number  of  years.  Earl\  in 
life,  he  had  inculcated  in  him  the  principles  of 
Democracy,  and  with  that  party  he  has  always 
affiliated. 

Perhai)s  the  most  important  and  pleasing 
experience  of  Mr.  Walker's  life  came  to  him  in 
1870.  in  his  marriage  to  Miss  Xancy  J.  Wallace, 
on  the  28th  of  April  of  that  year.  Miss  Wallace 
was  also  a  resident  of  W'indsor  township,  being 
the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliza  J.  Wallace, 
near  neighbors  of  the  Walker  family.  She  was  a 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  of  charming 
disposition,  and  it  was  with  considerable  self- 
congratulation  that  Mr.  M’alker  led  her  to  the 
altar. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  \\'alker  have  been  born 
four  children,  who  are  still  with  their  parents, 
the  family  circle  never  having  been  interru])ted 
by  marriage  or  death. 

Ora  W.  was  horn  in  1871,  on  the  2nd  day  of 
June,  and  has  been  cashier  of  the  Shelby  County 
State  bank  since  its  inceittion  :  Leila  was  born  in 
October  of  1873.  ^”‘1  tender  regard  by 

those  who  know  her  well,  being  a  young  lady 
of  rare  accom])lishments  and  gentle  graces,  add¬ 
ing  lustre,  as  well  as  pleasure,  to  the  home  or  any 
social  function;  Charles  Earl  was  horn  July  2nd. 
1878.  and  is  now  associated  in  business  with  his 
father ;  Harry  is  a  bright  hoy  of  sixteen  years, 
and  is  still  in  High  school.  Altogether,  the 
family  is  one  of  high  moral  character  and  ster¬ 
ling  ciualities,  and  all  are  devoted  to  one  another 
with  an  intensity  not  seen  in  every  household. 

Upon  the  expiration  of  Mr.  Walker's  second 
term  as  County  Treasurer,  he  established  himself 
in  an  office  on  Main  street,  from  which  he  at¬ 
tends  to  his  real  estate  and  stock  trading,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  and 
enterprising  citizens  of  Shelbvville  todav. 


W.  E.  HICK  MAX. 

J.  1>.  and  Hannah  (Thornton')  Hickman, 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  still  living.  Ivllen  died  when  hut  in 
the  dower  of  young  womanhood.  .\nn  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  ('leorge  Dial,  and  with  her  hus¬ 
band  makes  her  home  in  El  I’aso,  in  the  northern 
])art  of  Illinois.  The  other  six  children  still  re¬ 
side  in  Shelby,  the  county  of  their  nativity. 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  are  unmarried  and  make 
their  homes  together.  Mary  and  Margaret  are 
now  Mesdames  Jose])h  Kensil  and  Walter  Carr, 
respectively,  and  live  u])on  farms;  whilst  John 
having  taken  a  wife.  Miss  Margaret  Dial,  is  as¬ 
sociated  with  his  brother.  W.  IL.  in  the  mercan¬ 
tile  business.  Mr.  Hickman  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  came  to  this  county  at  an  early 
day.  Mrs.  llickman  was  originally  from  the 
state  of  Cieorgia.  William,  the  eldest  child  in 
the  familv.  was  born  in  Shelbvville  township,  on 
the'  ioth  (lav  of  December,  i860,  llis  educational 
privileges  were  limited  to  those  afforded  by  a 
district  school,  and  even  these  were  curtailed  for 
him  hv  the  early  death  of  his  father.  Much  of 
the  responsibility  of  carrying  on  a  farm  devolved 
U])on  him  when  but  a  mere  youth.  'I'his,  of 
course,  develo])ed  the  i)romising.  though  untried, 
boy  into  manlv  inde])endence.  The  rightful  ser¬ 
vice  of  his  youth,  he  rendered  to  his  widowed 
mother,  and.  not  until  his  majority  was  reached, 
did  he  leave  home. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  Mr.  llick¬ 
man  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ivllen.  the 
charming  daughter  of  J.  \\  .  and  Martha  (W  bite) 
Pritchard,  residents  of  Shelbyville.  Immediate¬ 
ly  after  his  marriage,  he  rented  a  farm  where  the 
village  of  Clarksburg  now  stands,  and  (hiring  a 
])erio(l  of  thriteen  years  continued  to  work  the 
same. 

In  the  year  i8(;4.  Mr.  Hickman  purchased 


2  2  1 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


from  tlic  "Thoniton  assiijnees"  a  tract  of  land 
in  Holland  township,  l^'or  a  little  more  than  two 
years  he  lived  upon  and  worked  this  land,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  moved  into  the  villaj^e  of 
Clarkshnrj^  and  opened  a  store  of  s^eneral  mer¬ 
chandise.  which  business  he  still  conducts. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hickman  are  the  parents  of 
three  children,  Malvoicine  C..  W'aneta.  and  Dove 
I).  'I'he  hand  of  death  has  never  yet  saddened 
their  home:  neither  has  the  time  yet  come  for 
family  separation,  the  children  all  being'  under 
the  parental  roof. 

In  connection  with  his  mercantile  ])ursuits, 
Mr.  Hickman  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  handling 
of  hay  and  grain.  This  he  did  from  an  independ¬ 
ent  standpoint.  .At  length,  however,  he  became 
the  recognized  agent  of  the  Sided  (irain  and 
h'devator  Co.,  and  ui)on  the  organization  of  the 
Clarksburg  Hay  Co.,  became  a  mend)er  and  was 
made  manager  of  the  same.  In  these  capacities 
his  dealings  in  produce  are  still  continued. 

The  esteem  in  which  Air.  Hickman  is  held 
may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
townshijj  supervisor  and  collector  for  two  terms, 
justice  of  the  peace  for  one  term  and  post  master 
since  the  ofifice  was  first  opened.  He  has  been 
a  democrat  all  his  life,  and  takes  no  small  interest 
in  political  matters.  Mr.  Hickman  is  a  member 
of  the  lodge  of  "Modern  Woodmen"  and  is 
clerk  of  the  camp.  I’oth  himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  "Court  of  Honor,"  and  best  of 
all,  according  to  his  own  words,  "Alembers  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church." 

The  store  in  which  Air.  Hickman  conducts 
his  business  is  a  large  and  well-kept  one.  The 
stock  is  extensive  and  well  selected.  Customers 
receive  prompt  and  courteous  treatment ;  and,  we 
do  not  hesitate  to  predict,  for  one  who  has 
achieved  so  much  and  is  still  but  forty  years  of 
age,  the  final  setting  of  life’s  sun  upon  a  course 
of  eminent  success  and  accomplishment. 


HORACE  E.  AIARTIX. 

( )n  the  eleventh  of  July.  1H36.  in  the  vil¬ 
lage  of  Jersey,  Licking  county,  ( )hio,  was  born 
the  subject  of  this  biography,  Horace  L.  Alartin. 
His  father  was  Mark  I).  Alartin,  a  w'orthy  repre¬ 
sentative  of  the  art  of  \  ulcan,  and  is  now'  a  resi¬ 
dent  of  Terre  Haute.  Indiana,  si)ending  his  de¬ 
clining  years  in  that  city.  He  is  in  his  eighty- 
seventh  year.  The  wife  of  Air.  Alartin  was  Julia 
-A.  Ward,  who  died  in  1846.  The  birth  i)lace  of 
both  of  these  was  New  Jersey. 

Horace  received  his  instruction  in  the  com¬ 
mon  branches  of  education,  in  the  common 
schools  of  Jersey,  but  was  afterwards  a  student 
in  Central  college,  a  seminary  of  Eranklin  coun¬ 
tv.  ( )hio.  He  entered  this  college  in  1850,  and  re¬ 
mained  there  in  close  ai)plication  to  his  studies 
for  a  period  of  five  years,  when  he  was  gradu¬ 
ated.  In  Sei)tember  of  1855.  he  found  his  way 
to  Shelbyville,  where  an  uncle  was  established  in 
the  drug  business  and  with  whom  Horace  en¬ 
gaged  as  clerk,  and  also  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  remaining  there  until  the  fall  of  ’57, 
when  he  entered  the  employ  of  W’ebster  &  Jag- 
ger,  as  a  dry  goods’  clerk.  Soon,  however,  he  re¬ 
turned  to  ( )hio,  where  he  spent  the  winter  and 
sirring  of  1857 — 58,  in  attendance  upon  the  lec¬ 
tures  in  the  Sterling  Aledical  school,  of  Colum¬ 
bus.  Afterwards,  he  went  to  Granville,  ().,  where 
he  spent  one  term  of  six  months  in  studying  the 
Water  Cure,  in  an  institution  there.  Returning 
to  Shelbyville.  in  July,  of  1858,  Air.  Alartin  began 
the  practice  of  medicine,  with  his  uncle,  but 
there  being  some  features  of  the  profession 
which  were  distasteful  to  him,  he  soon  after¬ 
wards  again  entered  upon  a  mercantile  career, 
engaging  for  the  second  time  with  the  firm  of 
Webster  &  Jagger,  wdth  whom  he  remained  as 
clerk  until  the  year  of  1861.  He  then  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  S.  H.  WTbster  &  Co., 


222 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


under  which  firm  name  they  conducted  a  general 
merchandise  store  for  nearly  a  dozen  years. 

In  August  of  1872,  he  began  his  journalistic 
career,  bv  purchasing  an  interest  in  The  Union, 
with  his  brothers.  Park  T.  and  Elgin.  In  the 
same  year  they  established  The  Republican,  in 
Effingham,  Elgin  H.  going  there  as  manager  of 
the  same.  This  paper,  however,  was  soon  sold 
to  Henry  Painter,  and  The  Uniop  engaged  their 
whole  attention.  In  the  following  year,  Horace 
Martin  became  the  sole  proprietor  of  this  paper 
and  plant,  and  has  so  continued  until  the  present. 
He  has  put  a  good  deal  of  earnest  toil  into  his 
effort  to  make  The  L'nion  one  of  the  leading 
papers  of  the  county,  and  the  paper,  itself,  speaks 
of  his  success  along  that  line.  It  was  the  only 
Republican  paper  in  the  county  for  many  years. 
In  1888.  Mr.  Martin  deemed  it  expedient  to  es¬ 
tablish  a  daily  paper,  which  he  did,  continuing 
it  under  the  name  of  The  Daily  L’nion,  which 
has  proven  to  be  a  pronounced  success. 

The  domestic  life  of  Mr.  Martin  has  ever 
been  congenial  and  hap])y.  he  having  married 
the  lady  of  his  choice,  on  lnde])endence  Day, 

1859.  This  was  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Elmus  H.  and  Hannah  (Xoah)  J agger,  who  have 
now  been  dead  for  some  years.  Miss  Jagger  was 
born  in  Summit  county.  Ohio.  July  23.  1840, 
though  a  resident  of  Shelby ville  from  1856.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  si.x  chil¬ 
dren.  The  first  of  these  was  Julia,  born  in  ]\Iay, 

1860,  who  died  October  9.  1862,  and  the  rest  as 
follows:  Edward,  born  October  17,  1861,  died 
October  30,  1862;  Homer,  born  August  21, 
1863,  died  October  i,  1863:  Henry  Mellville. 
born  September  5,  1864.  died  October  8,  1866; 
Etta,  born  May  26.  1867,  and  was  first  married 
to  John  E.  Downs,  in  1886,  but  is  now  the  wife 
of  J.  F.  Renshaw,  having  been  united  in  this 
marriage  on  January  6.  1894.  To  the  first  union 
was' born  one  daughter.  Ferna  Estelle,  who  has 


ever  made  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  ; 
and  to  the  second  union,  one  child,  who  died  in 
infancy.  The  last  birth  to  be  recorded  is  that 
of  Lucy,  who  was  born  September  12.  1869.  and 
is  still  in  the  jiarental  home. 

The  living  members  of  the  family  are  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  Mr.  Martin 
is  one  of  the  elders  of  the  same.  In  1882.  Mr. 
Martin  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Laborers' 
Loan  Association,  a  position  he  has  acceptably 
filled,  and  still  occupies.  He  has  never  been  a 
candidate  for  any  public  office,  and  consec[uently. 
in  these  days  when  an  office-seeker  has  to  "blow 
his  own  horn"  to  a  considerable  extent,  he  has 
never  received  any  public  office  in  political 
affairs.  Still  he  has  ever  upheld  the  principles 
of  the  party  to  which  he  belongs,  and  is  con¬ 
sidered  a  stable,  successful  business  man,  whose 
character  is  above  reproach. 

■St.  X  if. 

PHILO  PARKER. 

( )ne  of  the  most  iiromincnt  and  best  known 
citizens  of  Shelby  county,  is  the  President  of  the 
Shelby  County  State  Hank.  Philo  Parker.  For 
forty-five  years  he  has  been  closely  associated 

t 

with  the  business  interests  of  the  county,  and  has 
been  ever  ready  to  aid  materially  in  the  develo])- 
ment  of  the  same. 

Mr.  Parker  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Saratoga 
county,  Xew  ^’ork.  on  the  8th  day  of  May.  1830. 
Lfis  father.  Samuel  Parker,  was  one  of  the  pros- 
])erous  farmers  of  that  ])art  of  the  state,  a  man 
highly  respected  by  those  who  knew  him.  He 
died  in  1863.  Mrs.  Parker,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Du  Hois,  died  in  the  year  1848.  when 
the  son,  Philo,  was  but  eighteen  years  of  age. 
In  youth.  Mr.  Parker  received  a  good  common 
school  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  dis¬ 
trict  and  in  Ralston  and  Syracuse.  W  hen  20 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


years  old.  he  went  to  Savannah.  (>a..  where. he 
spent  several  years.  In  1S55.  he  made  his  first 
ai)pearanee  in  Shelhyville.  when  he  en^ag’ed  as 
foreman  with  C.  C.  Scovil  in  the  millinjj  and 
lumber  business,  which  position  he  held  nntil 
the  fall  of  1S56.  -At  this  time  a  partnership  was 
entered  into  by  the  former  owner  and  himself, 
which  existed  for  about  two  years.  Then  Mr. 
Parker  became  sole  i)roi)rietor  of  the  enter])rise 
and  continued  the  business  for  thirteen  years. 
In  the  lumber  business,  he  was  (juite  successful 
from  a  financial  standpoint,  and  this  can  he  .said 
with  ecpial  truth  of  all  other  business  enj^af^e- 
ments  entered  into  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Air.  Parker  established  the  first  exclusive 
hoot  and  shoe  store  in  Shelhyville.  and  after  a 
time  sold  it  to  K.  Clements,  subsecpiently  l)uyin<j 
out  the  s;eneral  merchandise  stock  of  Ca])t. 
Esi)ey.  l’iK)n  the  death  of  C.  C.  Scovil.  his  for¬ 
mer  i)artner  in  business,  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  administrators  of  the  estate,  which  was  a 
very  larj^e  one.  and  in  the  settlinfj  of  which  he 
was  actively  ens^asred  for  some  time.  Jt  was 
largely  due  to  his  wise  management  of  the  affairs 
that  after  all  claims  against  the  estate  had  been 
met.  there  was  cpiite  a  surplus  left.  This  was 
contrary  to  the  e.x])ectations  of  many  who  were 
familiar  with  the  condition  of  the  estate,  as  they 
thought  the  liabilities  would  e.xceed  the  assets. 

Mr.  Parker  was  one  of  the  organizers  and 
a  charter  member  of  th  l-^irst  National  Pank  of 
Shelbyville.  which  was  instituted  in  the  fall  of 
1873.  He  was  the  first 'to  be  elected  to  the  vice¬ 
presidency  of  the  bank,  a  position  which  he  held 
for  fourteen  years,  when  he  resigned  because  of 
ill-health  and  was  not  actively  engaged  in  busi¬ 
ness  for  himself  for  several  years. 

Upon  the  failure  of  the  Thomas  AT  Thorn¬ 
ton  bank.  Air.  Parker  was  appointed  one  of  tbe 
assignees,  and  was  engaged  for  a  year  and  a  half 


in  settling  up  the  affairs  of  the  bank.  In  Alarch 
of  1895.  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Shelby  County  State  bank,  which  was  ojjened 
for  business  in  A I  ay  of  that  year.  Air.  Parker 
was  elected  the  first  ])residcnt  of  the  bank  and 
has  held  the  office  to  the  i)resent  time,  and  has 
been  instrumental  in  ])lacing  the  bank  upon  a 
firm  financial  basis  and  amongst  the  foremost  of 
the  monetary  institutions  of  the  county. 

In  A])ril  of  1856.  Air.  Parker  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Aliss  Demina  Parish,  a  young  lady 
whose  birthplace  and  home  was  Shelbyville.  and 
who  still  lives  to  enjoy  the  beautiful  home-life 
with  her  husband.  Put  one  child  was  born  to 
Air.  and  Airs.  Parker,  a  daughter.  Alollie,  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Isenberg.  a  pros])erons 
merchant  of  Shelbyville. 

hd'orn  youth.  Air.  Parker  was  religiously  in¬ 
clined  and  has  been  for  many  years  a  i)rominent 
member  of  the  h'irst  AT  E.  church,  and  has  for 
some  time  been  ])resident  of  the  Poard  of  Trus¬ 
tees  of  the  same. 

While  still  a  young  lad.  Air.  Parker  took  a 
personal  ])ledge  in  accordance  with  the  sentiment 
of  which  he  has  ever  been  a  total  abstainer  from 
all  li(iuors.  and  has  never  used  tobacco  in  any 
form. 

In  ])olitics  he  is  an  ardent  Re])ublican,  and 
is  a  believer  in  the  ])rincii)le  that  all  good  men 
should  take  an  active  interest  m  ])olitics.  there¬ 
by  making  it  hard  for  the  demagogue  and  poli¬ 
tical  trickster  to  prevail. 

It  is  ever  a  pleasure  to  note  the  degree  of 
prominence  attained  by  those  men  who  have 
fought  life's  battle  alone  and  against  great  odds, 
and  the  career  of  Air.  Parker  is  an  illustration 
of  what  may  be  achieved  by  strict  adherence  to 
right  principles.  l)y  buoyant  courage  and  indomi¬ 
table  purpose. 


224 


B/OGRAPHIES. 


ALBERT  ALLEN. 

A  bio£jrapIiical  album  containino-  the  names 
of  the  "prominent  men”  of  Shelby  county,  would 
be  decidedly  incomplete  were  not  the  name  of 
Albert  Allen.  County  Clerk,  among’st  them. 
'Phere  is  no  more  familiar  figure,  no  more  ])rom- 
inent  nor  ])opular  official  in  the  court  house, 
than  he ;  and  it  is  with  pleasure  we  attemi)t  a 
brief  resume  of  his  useful  and  eventful  life. 

Mr.  .Allen  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Putnam 
county.  Indiana,  October  lo.  1S39.  The  first 
twenty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  toils  of 
farm  life,  and  in  attendance  u])on  the  common 
schools  of  the  neig'hborhood.  in  which  he  re¬ 
ceived  his  education.  ( )n  the  first  of  January. 
i860,  he  left  the  ])arental  home  and  entered  the 
county  clerk’s  office,  at  Oreencastle.  Ind.,  where 
he  remained  until  .Auj^^ust  of  1862.  It  was  then 
he  enlisted  in  the  i8th  Indiana  Lit^ht  .Artillery, 
and  faithfully  served  "L'ncle  Sam”  throuf^hout 
the  Rebellion,  receiving  an  honorable  discharj^e 
on  the  30th  of  June.  1865.  Mr.  .Mien  was  with 
the  famous  "Wilder  Lightniu"  Brigade" 
throughout  the  service,  and  bears  tbc  remark¬ 
able  record  of  never  having  missed  a  day  from 
duty,  through  sickness,  furlough,  or  whatever 
cause. 

On  September  17.  1861.  Mr.  .Allen  was  mar¬ 
ried  to  Miss  Amy  1C.  Robin.son,  at  Oreencastle. 
Indiana,  that  city  being  the  place  of  her  birth  in 
1839.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  Robinson,  prominent  residents  of  that 
l)lace.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Allen  was  born  one 
child.  Edward,  Alarch  16,  1866.  He  is  now  a 
])opular  member  of  Shelbyville  societv,  and  is  as¬ 
sociated  with  his  father,  as  de])Uty.  in  the  clerk's 
office. 

Mr.  Allen,  with  his  family,  came  to  Shelby¬ 
ville  in  April,  1872.  and  on  the  first  of  Septem¬ 
ber,  1873,  entered  the  county  clerk’s  office,  under 


J.  William  Lloyd,  lie  served  as  dcputv  clerk 
under  Air.  Lloyd  until  December  ist.  1877,  and 
continued  as  deputy  for  J.  E.  Frazier,  who  then 
became  clerk,  until  1882.  I'or  the  succeeding 
two  years  he  was  employetl  by  Cocbran  Lloyd, 
abstracters;  then  by  ('jraybill  <S;  Comi)any.  real 
estate  dealers,  until  December  1,  1886,  when  he 
re-entered  the  office  of  county  clerk,  as  deputv 
for  .\.  E.  .Allen,  whom  he  served  until  December 
1.  1894.  but  continued  under  1.  R.  Small,  until 
I'ebruary  1.  1896.  when  he  retired. 

Air.  .Allen  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat, 
and  recognizing  his  capability  and  merit,  his 
party  gave  him  a  sufficient  number  of  votes  in 
the  election  of  1898.  to  elect  him  to  the  office 
of  County  Clerk,  which  ])osition  he  is  now  liold- 
ing  to  the  eminent  satisfaction  of  his  constitu¬ 
ents.  Air.  .Allen  has  spent  about  twenty-tbree 
years  of  his  life  in  discharging  the  duties  of  a 
county  clerk’s  office,  and  is  therefore  one  of  the 
most  capable  members  of  that  office  the  county 
has  ever  had. 

The  home  life  of  Air.  .Mien  and  his  family  is 
happy  and  pleasant,  and  they  have  a  wide  circle 
of  friends  in  Shelby.  We  are  pleased  to  be  al)le 
to  ])roduce  a  portrait  of  Air.  .Allen  for  the  pages 
of  this  volume. 

*  *  *  ❖ 

ROBERT  .MARSHALL  ROOT. 

"So  nigh  is  grandeur  to  our  dust. 

So  near  is  God  to  man. 

When  duty  whis])ers  low,  ‘Thou  must,’ 

The  youth  replies.  ‘1  can.’  ” 

Birds  of  short  life  and  feeble  flight  are 
reared  in  warm,  .soft  nests,  amid  green  leaves, 
golden  tassels,  and  the  perfume  of  flowers.  .Not 
thus  are  eagles  reared.  Their  cradle  is  an  open 
shelf ;  their  nest  a  few  rough  sticks  spread  on 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


tlie  l)arc  ri)ck,  where  tliev  are  exposed  to  the 
rain  and  the  blast  whieh  howls  throuj^h  th  e  slcn. 
Snell  is  the  nnrsin^  of  the  bird  that  afterwards 
soars  in  snnnv  skies,  and  with  stroiif^  winj>^s 
cleaves  the  clouds  and  rises  upon  the  storms, 
h'ven  so  (hid  often  nurses  amid  difficulties  and 
harships  those  who  are  destined  to  rise,  by  a 
ladder  whose  ronnds  are  not  smooth,  to  promi¬ 
nence  on  earth. 

Kohert  Marshall  Root,  the  subject  of  this 
levlew,  is  one  of  the  men  who  have  achieved  a 
fair  measure  of  success  under  more  than  ordi¬ 
nary  difticnlties,  and  he  has  hut  proved  the  force 
of  the  truism,  that  difficulties  are  hut  tests  to  in¬ 
crease  our  faith  and  earnestness.  Itorn  into  a 
home  in  which  there  were  hut  few  of  the  luxur¬ 
ies  of  life,  and  where  unremitting  labor  upon  the 
liart  of  the  father  was  necessary  to  jirovide  the 
needs  and  comforts,  Mr.  Root  has  learned  some- 
thinj;'  of  what  struj^^les  and  obstacles  mean  ;  and 
was  early  convinced  that  if  victory  were  indeed 
achieved,  it  must  be  at  the  e.xpense  of  hard  and 
persistent  toil,  of  re]ieated  and  continued  encoun¬ 
ter  with  opposing  forces.  Rut,  undaunted  by 
this  conviction,  it  has  rather  served  to  make  his 
life  the  more  significant  and  the  higher  in  in- 
spiration. 

'rile  place  of  Air.  Root’s  nativity  was  Shel- 
byville,  he  being  born  here  on  the  20th  day  of 
March,  1863.  He  was  the  third  and  youngest 
son  of  John  and  Eunice  Root,  both  natives  of 
the  "(ireen  Aloimtain  State."  The  maiden  name 
of  the  mother  was  Ennice  Cook,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  I’earl  Cook,  who  lived  and  died  in 
\  erniont.  The  parents  of  Robert  Root  were 
married  while  still  in  their  native  state,  but  af¬ 
terwards  spent  a  couple  of  years  in  Plattsbnrg, 
Xew  A'ork,  coming  from  thence  to  Shelbyville 
about  forty-seven  years  ago.  After  the  birth  of 
Robert,  the  family  circle  remained  unbroken 
until  the  death  of  Air.  Root,  in  1879.  The  eld¬ 


est  son,  Charles  R.,  born  in  A’erniont  in  1851, 
died  July  27,  1898.  llis  home  was  in  Alattoon, 
Illinois,  where  he  had  been  for  some  time  a 
manager  for  a  dealer  in  hay.  John  (k,  the  second 
son,  born  in  Xew  A’ork,  in  1854.  still  lives  in 
Shelbyville,  where  he,  too,  is  engaged  in  the  hay 
business,  being  a  member  of  the  firm  of  W'ester- 
velt  &  Root. 

Robert  received  instruction  in  the  ordinarv 
branches  of  education,  in  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  Shelbyville.  While  still  a  boy,  he 
recognized  within  himself  the  iidierent  talents  of 
an  artist,  and  for  the  pur])ose  of  developing  these 
(pialities,  he  entered  the  School  of  I'ine  .Arts  of 
Washington  I'niversity,  at  vSt.  Louis,  where  he 
s])ent  the  years  1888,  1889  1890.  He  applied 

himself  to  study  and  work  with  so  much  dili¬ 
gence  that  he  made  exce|)tionaIIy  rapid  i)rogress, 
and  won  for  himself  the  plaudits  of  his  associates 
and  fellow-students,  and  the  appnjbation  of  his 
tutors.  Ry  marked  ability  in  the  execution  of 
some  fine  works  of  art  he  won  the  full  list  of 
prizes  offered  by  the  school ;  and  received 
scholarshi])s  for  three  consecutive  years.  So 
great  was  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held,  and 
so  manifestly  earnest  had  been  his  efforts  to 
excel,  that  at  the  commencement  exercises  at 
the  close  of  his  third  year  in  St.  Louis,  the  direc¬ 
tor  of  the  school  publicly  announced  his  regret 
that  they  were  unable  to  confer  upon  Air.  Root 
a  foreign  scholarship,  of  which  he  was  so  justlv 
deserving.  ( )n  the  strength  of  these  warm 
words  of  praise  from  such  an  influential  source. 
Air.  Root  was  enabled  to  make  arrangements  to 
spend  a  couple  of  years  in  the  suidy  of  art  in 
Paris,  which  he  did  in  1891  and  1892.  His 
tutors  there,  were  the  celebrated  Renjamin  Con¬ 
stant  and  Jules  Lefabvre.  They  took  such  an 
unusual  interest  in  this  .American  pnpil,  that  he 
found  it  possible  to  crowd  into  his  two  years  of 
Parisian  study,  more  than  the  ordinary  amount 


226' 


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D.  M.  UUDDLESTEN. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


of  endeavor  and  achievement.  \\'hile  there,  in 
1892.  he  exhibited  one  of  his  paintings  in  the 
French  Salon,  where  the  mere  acceptance  of  a 
])aintin".  by  the  jurors  selected  to  pass  upon  the 
merits  of  all  works  of  art  presented  for  exhibi¬ 
tion,  is  indeed  a  great  honor.’ 

Returning  to  Shelbyville.  where  Mr.  Root 
still  resides  with  his  loved  mother,  he  opened  a 
studio,  and  has  since  a])])lied  himself  closely  to 
his  ])rofession,  meeting  with  flattering  success. 
It  is  not  easy  for  a  young  artist  to  secure  custom 
as  a  rule,  but  the  innate  merit  of  the  productions 
of  Mr.  Root,  was  so  ai)parent  that  he  has  enjoyed 
to  an  unusual  degree  the  commendation  and  con¬ 
fidence  of  lovers  of  art  who  have  seen  his  work 
as  it  has  been  exhibited  in  the  princi])al  art 
mnseums  throughout  the  country,  he  being  an 
annual  exhibitor  in  six  of  tbe  largest  western 
cities.  In  fact,  his  work  has  gone  as  far  exist  as 
Connecticut.  He  has  recently  made  several  very 
satisfactory  sales  to  iirominent  people,  amongst 
whom  is  Rev.  Fraide  Rristol,  the  pastor  of  Presi¬ 
dent  McKinley. 

.Amongst  other  commissions  received  by 
Mr.  Root,  was  that  of  jiainting  a  life-size  portrait 
of  the  son  of  the  Honorable  Mr.  Rutherford,  of 
( )akland,  a  life-long  friend  of  our  own  Judge 
Moulton;  also  a  jiortrait  of  the  son  of  Cicero 
Findley.  Chairman  of  the  State  committee  of 
Cirain  Inspectors.  This  one,  for  a  time,  occu¬ 
pied  a  ])lace  on  the  walls  of  the  capitol  at  Spring- 
field.  The  most  prominent  of  his  work,  perhaps, 
are  the  magnificent  life-size  and  life-like  jiortraits 
of  Judge  Thornton  and  Judge  Moulton,  which 
adorn  the  wall  of  the  court  room  in  Shelbvville. 
-Another,  worthy  of  particular  mention,  is  the 
decorative  painting,  an  allegorical  treatment  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  in  the  auditorium  of  the 
hirst  M.  H.  church.  Truly  it  is  a  beautiful  thing, 
charming  the  eye  with  its  hallowed  perfectness. 

Mr.  Root  is  still  a  young  man,  just  in  the 


prime  of  life.  He  is  wedded — but  to  his  art.  He 
merits  and  has  the  resjiect  and  esteem  of  his 
wide  circle  of  warm  friends.  The  vistas  of  the 
future  are  before  him.  and  we  predict  for  him 
added  success  and  wonderful  achievements  in 
the  world  of  art.  in  which  he  already  enjoys  an 
enviable  rejiutation. 

5$!  ¥  ^  V 

-M  1 C 11  .A  h:  F  h'  R  h:  N'  I  L ■  R (',  E  R . 

In  Schwetzingen,  near  Heidelberg.  Cer- 
many,  Michael  Freyburger,  third  child  of  John 
1’.  and  Johanna  hVeyburger,  was  born  on  the 
23rd  day  of  February.  .A.  1).  1820.  Mr.  I'rey- 
burger,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  that  jiart  of  (lermany 
now  known  as  Rhenish  Ravaria,  but  which  was 
a  I'rench  |)ossession  until  Napoleon's  great  de¬ 
feat,  after  which  it  was  ceded  to  the  (lerinan 
I'unpire.  Mr.  I'reyburger  was  an  officer  in  Xa- 
])oleon's  army,  receiving  his  discharge  from  ser¬ 
vice  shortly  before  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  In 
1831.  he  came  with  his  family  to  Eden  townshij). 
I'.rie  county,  .Xew  A’ork.  Here  he  lived  for  a 
period  of  three  years,  engaged  in  agricnltural 
pursuits.  He  then  started  for  the  west;  driving 
through  with  the  customary  outfit  of  a  ‘iiome- 
seeker."  While  yet  in  the  east  central  ])art  of 
( )hio.  he  was  taken  suddenly  ill.  and  died  after 
a  brief  interval.  'Phe  widow  jiurchased  a  farm 
near  Columbus,  where  she  lived  for  about  one 
year,  after  which  she  sold  the  same,  and  drove 
with  her  family  to  ( )kaw  township,  Shelby  Co.. 
Illinois.  Michael,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the  only 
living  member  of  this  family  ;  Charlotte.  Wilhel- 
mina  and  William  all  being  dead.  Mrs.  Frey¬ 
burger,  the  faithful  and  devoted  mother,  died  in 
the  year  i86(;. 

The  only  educational  advantages  enjoyed 
by  Mr.  Freyburger  were  furnished  by  the  com¬ 
mon  schools  in  his  native  jirovince.  W  e  can  best 


2 


27 


BIOCiRAPH/ES. 


jiulf^e  of  the  nieaf^rcMicss  of  tlicse,  wlicn  \vc  con¬ 
sider  tliat  he  left  tliat  land  when  but  eleven  years 
of  aj>e.  Thronj>hont  his  lonj^  life,  Mr.  h'rey- 
hnrj^er  has  eontined  his  efforts  to  fanning-;  in 
this  honorable  and  ])riinary  industry,  he  came  to 
rank  anu)n<^  the  best.  Mr.  h'reybnrj.jer  remem¬ 
bers  the  earliest  days  of  i^helby  eonnty.  The 
hirst  .M.  IT  ehnreh,  Shelby ville,  was  the  only 
ehnreh  edifice  in  the  county,  when  he  first  came 
within  its  bounds.  'Fhe  city  of  Shelbyville  had  a 
])0])ulation  of  about  300  souls.  'I'here  were  two 
saw  mills  in  the  county  at  the  time,  located  on 
the  ( )kaw,  one  of  which  was  owned  and  manaf^ed 
by  a  man  by  the  name  of  h'ranciseo.  'I'hese  saw 
mills  belon”:  to  the  family  known  in  history  as 
■■'riie  L'p  and  Down”  kind,  lie  carried  .ifrain  to 
a  mill  about  three  miles  beyond  Sprin5.^field. 
Wheat  was  marketed  in  St.  Louis,  being  sold  for 
"three  bits,"  thirty-si.\  cents  i)er  bushel.  I'amily 
sui)i)lies  were  hauled  from  that  distant  iioint. 

In  the  year  1843,  h'reyburger  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  .\.  Johnson,  a  step¬ 
daughter  of  1).  W.  Henry,  who  was  among  the 
pioneer  preachers  of  this  county.  To  them  were 
born  eight  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  still 
living,  .\nnie  and  Laura  died  in  their  infancy 
and  Theophilus,  Charles,  Kossuth  and  Edward 
in  youth  or  young  manhood.  Mary  is  in  charge 
of  the  household  affairs  at  her  father's  home  in 
Shelbyville.  John  invests  largely  in  live  stock 
and  is  doubtless  the  leading  shipper  in  the  comi¬ 
ty  ;  he  too,  resides  with  his  father.  William  is 
engaged  in  business  in  Hllensburg,  Washington. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freyburger  began  their  mar¬ 
ried  life  upon  a  farm  in  ( )kaw  township,  which 
he  still  owns.  In  the  year  1849.  he  with  a  party 
of  seven  others,  started  overland  for  the  gold 
fields  of  California,  'fhe  journey  was  begun  with 
an  ox  team,  but  when  vSt.  Joseph  was  reached 
the  o.xen  were  traded  for  mules.  At  this  stage 
of  their  journey,  their  jiarty  was  increased  by  the 


accession  of  three  new  members.  They  started 
from  St.  Josejih  on  the  7th  day  of  May  and  ar¬ 
rived  in  the  mining  regions  of  California  on  the 
5th  day  of  .\ngust.  'fhe  tri])  and  the  return  was 
lierformed  without  serious  accident  or  misfor¬ 
tune.  Mr  .h'reybnrger  returned  to  this  county 
in  ( )ctober,  1851.  He  was  somewhat  financially 
|)rofited  by  his  mining  ex])erience. 

In  Se])tember,  1861,  Michael  iM'eyburger 
was  mustered  into  service  to  fight  in  the  great 
war  of  the  Rebellion,  as  a  member  of  the  7th 
Illinois  Cavalry,  Co.  11,  and  not  until  the  close 
of  the  war  in  1865,  was  he  mustered  out.  He 
participated  in  a  great  nnmber  of  skirmishes,  and 
was  in  the  two  ilays’  battle  at  .Xashville,  the  bat¬ 
tle  of  Port  Hudson,  and  the  battle  of  Corinth. 
W  hen  his  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
I'rankhn,  Mr.  I'reyburger  was  absent;  having 
been  sent  as  the  bearer  of  important  dispatches. 
Xearly  all  of  his  military  services  were  ])erformcd 
under  (icn.  (iider.son,  and  («en.  Hatch.  Mr. 
I'reybnrger  accompanied  the  troops  on  that 
famous  expedition  known  as  Grierson’s  raid. 

1  le  enlisted  for  service  as  a  private,  but  was  mus¬ 
tered  out  as  a  Lieutenant.  Ly  one  of  his  com¬ 
rades,  he  has  been  styled,  “the  handsomest  sol¬ 
dier  in  his  com])any.”  He  is  now  one  of  the  old¬ 
est  members  of  Shelby  Comity  (L  A.  R.  Shortly 
after  the  war,  viz:  in  D.  1870,  Mr.  Freyburger 
laid  the  mortal  remains  of  his  wife  to  their  rest  in 
the  grave. 

In  his  twenty-first  year,  Mr.  Freyburger 
united  with  the  Christian  church,  of  which  or¬ 
ganization  he  still  remains  an  active  and  devoted 
member.  He  is  a  man  concerning  whom  all 
speak  well.  His  life  has  been  long  and  success¬ 
ful  ;  and  now,  as  life’s  sun  is  setting,  its  rays  fall 
upon  a  ])eaceful  evening  scene,  'fhe  crowning 
virtue  and  glory  of  old  age  is  an  adornment  of 
the  Christian  graces.  Those  who  live  with  life's 
great  end  in  view  never  outlive  their  usefulness. 


228 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


1'heir  closing  days  suggest  a  going  u])  into  the 
mount  of  vision,  rather  than  a  decline  into  the 
vale  of  death.  Their  end  is  peace. 

*  *  * 

COXX  BROTHERS. 

Our  biographical  allnnn  could  not  he  con¬ 
sidered  com]dete.  did  it  not  have  upon  its  pages 
a  pen-sketch  of  the  men  whose  names  head  this 
liaragraph. 

The  Conn  brothers — Stanley  and  John — 
now  living  in  Shclhyville.  are  of  English  de¬ 
scent,  having  been  horn  in  Canaan,  Canada  East. 
( )n  their  mother’s  side  they  are  connected  with 
the  line  of  Stanley’s  for  whom  the  elder  was 
named.  These  Stanleys  were  a  line  of  English 
statesmen,  who  field  office  continually  under  the 
government,  for  a  jicriod  of  yoo  years — a  record 
scarcely  equalled  by  any  other  family.  The 
father  was  a  teacher.  In  1817,  he  ojiened  a  pri¬ 
vate  school  in  Montreal ;  a  modest  little  card  in¬ 
forming  the  public  that  he  was  ‘prepared  to 
teach  the  following  branches  at  the  following 
prices  : 

“Reading,  3s  jicr  (piarter;  ICnglish  grammar 
and  Elocution,  (feography,  llistory,  (.\ncient 
and  Modern)  W'riting  and  .Arithmetic.  8s  qd  per 
quarter;  Stenograjiliy  on  the  most  aiiiiroved 
plan,  ipd  2s  qd  iier  (piarter;  Algebra,  (feometry 
with  its  application  to  Trigonometry.  Mensura¬ 
tion,  Surveying,  Xavigation,  Dialing,  etc.,  ipd  2s 
i)d  per  quarter.  He  will  also  teach  in  the  even¬ 
ings  ;  Xatural  and  Experimental  Philosophy,  ex¬ 
plaining  in  an  easy  and  familiar  manner,  the 
Laws  of  flatter  and  Motion,  Mechanical  Powers, 
Specific  Gravities.  Optics,  the  Theory  of  Astron¬ 
omy,  Electricity  etc.,  ipd  is  (qd.”  This  was  be¬ 
fore  the  day  of  the  specialist. 

r)esides  these  two  brother.s — .Stanley  and 
John — there  were  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 


all  having  lived  to  maturity.  'I'he  early  years  of 
the  family  were  spent  on  a  farm,  three  and  one- 
half  miles  out  from  ('iranby.  Can.  During  the 
summer  they  followed  the  ordinary  agricultural 
pursuits,  while  their  winters  were  sjient  in  the 
lumber  camps,  felling  trees,  with  the  snow  from 
three  and  one-half  to  four  feet  deep.  The  cold 
was  so  intense  that  often,  for  three  months  at  a  ' 
time,  the  St.  Lawrence  river  was  frozen  so  solidly 
that  teams  cotdd  cross  upon  the  ice.  In  the 
s])ring.  before  the  snow  had  melted,  sugar  camps 
were  opened,  where  sugar  for  the  entire  famil\ 
for  the  following  year,  was  made.  In  addition  to 
all  this,  the  children  found  time  to  attend  the 
Government  school,  though  they  received  the 
greater  part  of  their  instruction  in  mathematics 
from  their  father. 

'I'he  region  round  -  about  their  Canadian 
home  being  too  woody  for  good  farm  land,  the 
family  came  to  the  L'nited  .States  in  the  year 
1833.  for  the  ])nrpose  of  securing  good  land, 
fiee  from  timber;  a  part  of  the  family  going  in 
the  spring,  the  rest  following  in  September.  'I'he 
journey  from  Montreal  to  Chicago  was  made  by 
water  and  rail ;  up  the  St.  Lawrence  river, 
through  Lake  Ontario,  to  Xiagara  Ealls,  where 
a  short  stop  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  sight¬ 
seeing:  down  through  Lake  h'rie  to  'I'oledo.  and 
from  thence  to  Chicago  by  rail.  StO])])ing  in 
Chicago  but  a  short  time,  the  journey  was  re¬ 
sumed  to  Dubiu|ue,  Iowa,  and  from  thence  to 
Rockville,  thirty  miles  out. 

before  the  Conns  had  left  Montreal,  the 
English  had  taken  Sebastojx)!.  and  great  excite¬ 
ment  prevailed.  .\  little  incident  served  to  im¬ 
press  this  fact  ui)on  the  minds  of  the  two  broth¬ 
ers.  Just  as  they  were  about  to  embark  upon  the 
steamer  an  Irishman  came  running  up.  waving 
his  arms  frantically.  "Sebastopol  has  been 
taken.”  he  cried,  "and  the  Irishmen  done  it.  " 
'I'hen,  (juick  as  a  Hash,  seeing  the  sensation  pro- 


229 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


(luced,  he  held  out  Ids  hand,  savin”-,  "(live  a 
poor  Irislinian  a  penny.” 

Arriving  at  Rockville,  the  first  concern  was 
to  procure  a  home.  This  was  soon  done  for  the 
parents,  hut  the  boys  went  further  west,  to  But¬ 
ler  county,  one  hundred  thirty  ndlcs  from  Dubu- 
(jne.  After  selecting  their  land,  their  chief  ob¬ 
ject  was  to  get  back  to  Duhiupie  on  the  day  the 
Land  Office  opened,  to  enter  their  land  before 
any  one  could  anticipate  them.  It  being  late  in 
Xovemher,  and  the  roads  heavy  from  recent- 
rains,  Stanley  and  two  of  his  hrothers-in-law. 
leaving  their  team,  walked  seventy  miles  with¬ 
out  resting,  making  the  distance  in  a  single  day 
and  night,  through  the  snow,  for  the  last  thirty 
miles,  was  a  half  foot  dee]).  They  reached  Du¬ 
buque  in  safety,  and  were  the  first  to  i)resent 
themselves  at  the  Land  Office  the  day  it  opened. 
’I'hat  winter  the  family  s|)ent  at  Rockville.  In 
the  si)ring*  the  sons  returned  to  their  claims,  to 
improve  the  land  and  build  homes — all  excejit 
the  two  sons. 

Stanley,  after  building  a  home  for  his  par¬ 
ents,  went  to  work  in  a  saw  mill  near  by,  si)end- 
ing  the  summer  there  and  contracting  a  severe 
case  of  malaria  fever.  After  recovering  from  his 
illness,  he  went  to  work  for  a  man  named  George 
Knsign,  in  New  Hartford,  where  they  ran  a 
shingle  machine,  besides  building  many  houses. 
iTom  thence  he  went  to  work  on  the  immense 
farm  owned  by  the  ( )hio  Stock  conqiany,  in 
Butler  county,  Iowa. 

John  returned  to  Dubuque,  and,  entering 
the  machine  shops,  studied  the  art  of  engineer¬ 
ing.  Here  he  remained  a  year  or  more,  and 
then  went  to  Cedar  Falls,  where  he  spent  a 
couple  of  years  operating  a  mill.  Stanley  re¬ 
mained  full  two  years  on  the  stock  farm,  doing 
all  the  building  required  on  the  place,  as  he  had 
previously  accpiired  a  good  knowledge  of  the  car¬ 
penter’s  trade,  even  before  he  left  Canada.  This 


stock  farm  consisted  of  10,000  acres,  owned  by 
a  com])any  of  six  men.  Dr.  Sprague  being  the 
])resident  of  the  company.  When  not  engaged 
in  building,  Stanley  had  the  oversight  of  the  dif¬ 
ferent  farming  de])artments,  thus  ac(|uiring  a 
knowledge  of  agriculture  difficult  to  obtain  on  a 
smaller  farm.  Ks])ecially  did  he  become  an  ex¬ 
pert  in  matters  i)ertaining  to  stock,  as  on  this 
farm  they  had  the  best  that  Ohio  and  Kentucky 
could  produce.  However,  the  country  round 
about  being  new,  there  was  little  demand  for 
such  fine  stock  as  this  farm  i)roduced,  hence  the 
enterprise  ])roved  a  failure,  financially,  the  stock 
was  sold,  and  the  land  divided  amongst  the  com- 
])any. 

In  1S59,  Stanley  and  John  went  to  Colum¬ 
bia,  Mo.,  then  the  ".Athens  of  the  West.”  The 
first  thing  they  did  here  was  to  build  a  house  for 
one  jerry  Dorsey,  and  other  emi)loyment  fol¬ 
lowed.  For  two  years  they  stayed  here,  when, 
in  1861,  they  went  to  Carleton,  Mo.  The  Civil 
war  breaking  out  about  this  time,  i)ut  an  end  to 
their  trade,  as  the  country  was  torn  from  one  end 
to  the  other,  and  there  was  little  call  for  emi)loy- 
ment  of  any  kind.  They  then  rented  the  Banks 
farm,  in  the  "Charleton  Bottoms,”  fourteen 
miles  from  town.  This  was  a  farm  of  480  acres. 
The  first  year  they  raised  one  hundred  acres  of 
hemp,  and  corn  without  end.  Two  years  were 
spent  here  on  the  farm,  but  the  war  becoming 
more  threatening,  they  were  forced  to  sell  and 
go  to  St.  Louis.  After  spending  some  time 
there,  they  came  to  Shelbyville,  in  1864.  About 
their  first  employment  here  was  upon  the  block 
of  business  houses  now  occupied  by  Pogue, 
Scarborough,  Pollard  and  Kensil  Brothers.  In 
March  of  the  following  year,  they  opened  their 
lumber  yard,  under  the  firm  name  of  Johnson  & 
Conn  Brothers.  John  has  remained  in  close  ap¬ 
plication  to  this  business  from  that  time  to  the 
jiresent,  hut  Stanley  still  followed  the  building 


230 


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PROF.  J.  E.  CLAVADETSCHER 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


trade  in  and  around  Shelbyville.  In  the  fall  of 
that  year  Underwood  and  Conn  built  tlie  Sulli¬ 
van  court  house,  and  a  liome  for  J.udg-e  Elder,  of 
that  place.  In  the  spring  of  1866,  Stanley  went 
to  California.  ^Missouri,  to  build  a  court  house. 
The  work  was  to  be  completed  in  eighteen 
months  from  date  of  contract,  but  it  was  com- 
])leted  in  every  detail,  and  court  was  in  session  in 
exactly  eleven  months'  time. 

In  September  of  1868.  Stanley  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Stillwell,  and  in  the  following  Xovem- 
ber.  John  married  Alzcnith  P.  Stillwell.  In  1869 
the  Conn  llrothers  took  the  contract  for  the  erec¬ 
tion  of  the  public  school  building  on  Main  street. 
Work  was  begun  in  A])ril  of  the  next  year,  and 
the  building  was  completed  by  Christmas,  so 
that  it  was  ready  for  occu])ancy  by  the  first  of 
the  year.  In  ’71  they  built  the  West  Side  school  in 
Mattoon  ;  in  '72  they  built  the  Supreme  Court 
House  in  Mt.  X'ernon.  Illinois.  They  had  pre- 
])ared  for  the  erection  of  the  buildings  for  the 
School  of  Minds,  at  Kollo.  Mo.,  the  building  to 
have  cost  $100,000:  but  for  lack  of  funds  the 
project  had  to  he  abandoned.  Later,  they  estab¬ 
lished  a  lumber  yard  in  Sullivan,  which  they  con¬ 
ducted  for  seven  or  eight  years,  and  also  one  in 
Cowden.  for  five  or  six  years.  In  1876  the  Conns 
bought  out  Johnson's  interest  in  the  yard  at 
Shelbyville  and  also  sold  out  in  Sullivan  and 
Cowden.  In  1880  to  '81  the  county  employed 
Stanley  to  superintend  the  erection  of  our  Court 
House.  This  is  the  last  large  building  in  the 
erection  of  which  they  were  concerned.  Since 
that  time,  they  have  •  devoted  themselves  ex¬ 
clusively  to  the  lumber  and  hardware  trade. 

The  brothers  both  joined  the  Methodist 
church  in  Rockville,  in  1856.  and  since  that  time 
have  been  closely  identified  with  the  church. 
Stanley  has  taught  in.  or  attended  the  Sabbath 
school  every  Sunday  since  1874.  with  the  excej)- 
tion  of  three,  when  he  was  unavoidably  absent 


from  town.  I  loth  boys  received  the  priceless 
heritage  of  a  good  constitution.  Stanley  never 
having  been  absent  from  business  on  account  of 
sickness  since  1856.  a  period  of  forty-four  years. 
John  has  given  close  attention  to  the  business  in 
Shelbyville.  ever  since  1866.  The  brothers  reside 
in  Shelbyville.  having  lived  since  their  marriage 
on  adjoining  lots. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Conn  have  been  born 
tliree  daughters,  on  of  whom  has  “passed  on  be¬ 
fore,"  and  one  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Mizell,  of  Shel- 
byville.  ( )ne  son  and  three  daughters  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley  Conn,  all  of  whom 
are  living  and  are  still  in  the  home,  with  the  ex¬ 
ception  of  one  who  is  the  wife  of  hjnra  Polinger, 
of  this  city. 

These  families  occupy  an  honored  position 
in  Shelbyville  society,  and  are  prominent  mem- 
!)ers  of  church  and  .social  circles.  The  business 
methods  of  the  brothers  are  above  adverse  criti¬ 
cism.  and  tliey  enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  busi¬ 
ness  men  of  Shelbyville.  as  well  as  that  of  their 
customers. 

*  *  ♦  *  j 

J.  E.  CL.W'ADETSCHER. 

Opportunities  come  to  all.  The  days  of 
every  life  are  full  of  them.  Rut  the  trouble  with 
too  many  of  us  is  that  we  do  not  make  anything 
out  of  them  while  we  have  them.  The  next  mo¬ 
ment  they  are  gone.  One  man  goes  through  life 
sighing  for  opportunities.  If  only  he  had  this  or 
that  gift,  or  place,  or  position,  he  would  do  great 
things,  he  says :  but  with  his  means,  his  poor 
chances,  his  meagre  privileges,  his  uncongenial 
surroundings,  his  limitations,  he  can  do  nothing 
worthy  of  himself.  Then  another  man  comes  up 
close  beside  him.  with  like  means,  chances,  cir¬ 
cumstances,  privileges,  and  he  achieves  noble  re- 


23f 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


suits,  does  heroic  things,  wins  for  himself  honor 
or  renown.  The  secret  is  in  the  man,  not  in  his 
environment. 

'I'o  this  class  of  men,  who  lay  hold  upon  the 
o])portnnities  as  they  i)ass,  and  im])rove  them, 
belongs  Professor  J.  I",.  Clavadetseher,  a  talented 
young  musician,  ])rominent  in  Shelhyville  so¬ 
ciety.  He  was  horn  on  the  20th  of  .\ugust,  1H72, 
in  Davos.  Ct.  des  (misons,  Switzerland,  and  is 
one  of  the  three  children  horn  to  the  j)arents. 
.Andreas  and  Marie  (Michal)  Clavadetseher.  Of 
the  others,  the  sister  received  the  mother's  name. 
Marie,  is  married  to  a  Mr.  lluegly.  and  still  re¬ 
sides  in  the  town  where  she  was  horn ;  the 
brother,  who  hears  the  name  of  his  father.  .An¬ 
dreas,  is  the  youngest  of  the  trio,  and  is  now  at¬ 
tending  college  in  Switzerland.  Mrs.  Clavadet- 
scher  died  in  i8(jo.  Mr.  Clavadetseher.  who  was 
in  the  hotel  business  nearly  all  of  his  lifetime,  and 
was  also  a  noted  musician,  lived  until  hehruary 
of  1899. 

When  hut  twelve  years  of  age.  the  subject 
of  this  l)iograi)hy  left  home  and  entered  school 
in  Chur,  Ecole  Cantonal,  where  he  pursued  the 
common  branches  of  stud}',  besides  undergoing 
a  thorough  course  of  instruction  in  the  Latin, 
Cierman  and  h'reneh  languages,  and  in  music,  a 
love  and  talent  for  which  was  inherent  in  his  na¬ 
ture.  While  in  this  school,  he  was  under  the 
tutorship  of  Profs.  Friech,  a  P>ohemian,  and 
P.auer,  German,  who  instructed  him  on  the 
violin  ;  Prof.  Dietz,  who  trained  his  vocal  powers, 
thus  rendering  him  a  ca])al)le  conductor  of  choirs 
and  harmony ;  and  Prof.  Radezky,  a  Russian, 
who  taught  him  in  the  music  of  the  'cello.  Cnder 
these  competent  teachers.  Air.  Clavadetseher  was 
an  apt  ])upil,  and  early  gave  substantial  evidence 
of  his  remarkable  musical  talent.  He  remained 
in  this  school  at  Chur  for  four  years,  and  while 
there  served  as  military  cadet. 

From  Chur,  Air.  Clavadetseher  went  to 


Zurich,  Switzerland,  where  he  took  a  course  in 
business  training,  and  also  continued  his  musi¬ 
cal  studies.  Here  he  remained  until  the  death 
of  his  mcither,  in  1890,  when  he  returned  home 
for  a  short  time,  soon  afterward  leaving  for 
.America.  He  spent  some  time  with  an  uncle  in 
St.  Louis,  afterward  going  to  llelleville,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  ])ainting  business.  Soon, 
however,  he  removed  to  Highland.  Illinois,  and 
for  five  years  engaged  in  teaching  that,  in  the 
study  of  which  he  had  labored  faithfully  and  per¬ 
sistently — music  and  the  languages.  He  then 
took  u])  his  abode  in  Greenville,  where  he  con¬ 
tinued  his  teaching,  and  also  secured  employ¬ 
ment  in  a  banner  and  regalia  factory.  Prof. 
Clavadetseher  considers  his  great  musical  suc¬ 
cess  in  Greenville  to  have  been  the  organizing 
and  training  of  a  Ladies'  Orchestra.  Of  him  the 
Greenville  .Advocate  has  this  to  say: 

"Prof.  E.  Clavadetseher  was  a  resident  of 
Greenville  for  nearly  two  years,  and  during  that 
time  his  services  and  talent  as  a  thorough  musi¬ 
cian  made  him  a  central  figure,  not  only  here, 
hut  in  the  counties  adjoining  Rond.  He  has  or¬ 
ganized  and  trained  an  orchestra  comjiosed  en¬ 
tirely  of  ladies,  whose  fame  and  rejiutation  as  a 
fine  musical  organization  is  recognized  far  and 
wide.  .As  a  violinist,  he  has  delighted  some  of 
the  most  critical  musicians  in  Greenville  and  sur¬ 
rounding  cities.  His  performance  on  the  'cello 
has  never  been  equaled  here."  T  his  is  high  praise 
and  eommendation,  hut  is  no  more  than  the  just 
due  of  this  already  celebrated  musician.  While 
in  Greenville  he  engaged  to  a  limited  extent  in 
concert  business,  as  'cellist ;  hut  Air.  Clavadet- 
scher  has  no  inclination  to  use  his  musical  gifts 
in  that  siihere,  so  has  entirely  abandoned  the 
concert  field,  and  devotes  his  entire  time  to  other 
avenues  of  musical  exhibition  and  teaching. 

In  .August,  1898,  Air.  Clavadetseher  came  to 
Lithia  Springs,  as  a  member  of  the  orchestra  at 


232 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


the  Chautauqua.  becoming  acquainted  with 
many  of  vSlielhyville’s  music-loving  peojde,  and 
himself  falling  desperately  in  love  with — Shclby- 
ville,  after  but  a  few  weeks  return  to  Greenville, 
he  concluded  his  engagements  there  and  came 
again  to  this  city,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
engaging,  from  the  first,  in  the  teaching  of  music, 
and  German  and  French  languages.  In  the  fall 
of  ’99,  Mr.  Clavadetscher  spent  some  weeks  in 
Chicago,  a  violin  student  of  Ilcresino,  Concert 
Master,  Chicago  ( )rchestra.  He  also  took  cello 
with  .Ambrosius,  'cello  soloist  with  Thomas  Or¬ 
chestra.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Professor  to 
go  to  Chicago  in  February,  to  spend  several 
weeks  in  study,  thus  showing  his  determination 
to  keep  in  touch  with  the  very  latest  and  best  in 
his  profession,  and  give  to  his  pupils  the  benefit. 

After  engaging  for  a  year  with  I.  M.  Don- 
thit.  Prof.  Clavadetscher  formed  a  partnership 
with  this  gentleman,  in  September  of  this  year, 
and  together  they  conduct  an  extensive  and  lucra¬ 
tive  business  in  the  sale  of  musical  goods  and 
instruments,  under  the  firm  name  of  Douthit  lA 
Clavadetscher.  Mr.  Clavadetscher  himself,  has  a 
cozv  and  comfortable  studio  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  building  used  by  the  firm. 

Professor  Clavadetscher  has  just  cause  to  be 
l)roud  of  the  success  he  achieved  in  organizing 
and  training  the  Children’s  Sunday  School  Or¬ 
chestra.  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  which  added 
so  much  to  the  pleasure  and  entertainment  of  the 
attendants  at  that  service.  It  has  ever  been 
])leasing  to  this  gifted  artist,  to  assist  the  church 
in  its  musical  service,  rather  than  favor  those  who 
are  not  so  deserving.  He,  himself,  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  church,  though  is  not 
l)igoted  or  narrow  in  his  denominationalism. 

Prof.  Clavadetscher  is  one  with  whom  it  is 
a  pleasure  to  have  acciuaintance.  a  splendid  con¬ 
versationalist,  and  a  courteous  gentleman  who 
is  a  welcomed  addition  to  the  verv  best  societv 


of  Shelby ville.  He  has  asked  us  to  exj^ress.  in 
this  sketch,  his  appreciation  of  the  kindly  cour¬ 
tesies  received  since  his  advent  in  the  city,  and 
says  that  in  all  his  sojournings  he  has  not  found 
as  homelike  and  agreeable  a  ])lace  as  Shelbyville. 
.Amongst  his  many  friends  here,  he  keenly  ap- 
l)reciates  the  intimate  association  of  Prof.  Taylor, 
director  of  Lithia  Springs  ( )rchestra,  and  Robert 
Root,  the  artist.  These,  indeed,  complete  a  very 
congenial  trio. 

For  Prof.  Clavadetscher.  a  future  of  great 
prominence  wonld  be  the  natural  sec|uence  of 
present  attainments,  and  his  very  many  friends 
will  follow  his  career  with  interest. 

iji  if.  St.  If 

MAX  KLEh:MAX. 

In  \\  erncck.  Pavaria.  ('lermany.  Max  K lee- 
man  was  born  in  the  year  1S37.  His  |)arents 
were  Susman  and  Fanny  Kleeman.  the  maiden 
name  of  the  latter  being  Fanny  Alayer.  His 
father  was  |)roprietor  of  a  large  farm,  and  car¬ 
ried  on  (pi’te  extensive  oi)erations  in  cattle  buy¬ 
ing,  as  well.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kleeman;  Isaac,  now  aged  sixty-seven 
years,  and  who  still  resides  in  (icrmany  :  W’il- 
liam,  now  aged  si.xty-five  years,  who  is  a  resident 
(rf  Tennessee:  and  Alax.  the  subject  of  tins  bio¬ 
graphy.  Mr.  Kleeman  died  in  1849.  and  about 
four  years  later  Mrs.  Kleeman  also  passed  away. 
.Almost  immediately  after  the  death  of  his 
mother.  Max  Kleeman,  then  but  sixteen  years 
old,  left  Germany  and  came  to  .America,  spend¬ 
ing  his  first  year  in  this  country  in  Xew  York 
City.  In  the  following  year,  1854.  he  went  to 
( )hio  and  was  engaged  there  for  two  years  in  the 
jewelry  and  clothing  business.  He  was  in  Co¬ 
lumbus  when  the  first  theatre  was  built  in  the 
city. 

"Westward  the  star  of  Empire  takes  its 


B/OGRAPH/ES. 


wav,"  and  with  it.  in  1856,  Mr.  K Iceman  went  as 
far  as  Iowa,  where  he  located  in  the  city  of  Des 
Moines  and  was  en<jaj^cd  in  mercantile  pursuits 
for  the  sncceedin"  three  years.  It  was  while  he 
was  there  that  the  first  Capitol  hnilding  of  Iowa 
was  erected.  I  hree  year.s  later,  ^Ir.  Ivleeman 
removed  from  Des  Moines  to  Shelby  count}. 
Locating  in  Shelby ville.  he  opened  a  clothing 
store  in  the  building  in  which  Mrs.  Oliver  now 
conducts  her  millinery  business.  This  building 
has  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  one  now 
standing  which  was  then  on  Main  street. 

In  1H63.  Mr.  Kleeman  extended  his  busi¬ 
ness  adding  dry  goods  and  shoes  to  his  clothing 
stock,  and  took  into  i)artnership  with  him  Wil¬ 
liam  Goldstein,  a  pleasant  and  courteous  gentle¬ 
man,  who  is  still  a  member  of  the  firm.  1  he 
business  has  been  moved  westward  on  Main 
street  several  times,  each  removal  being  into 
larger  and  more  commodious  quarters.  In  1H75, 
the  building  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street  now 
cjccupied  bv  Kleeman,  (joldstein  &  Sons,  was 
built  especially  for  them,  and  is  a  model  of  neat¬ 
ness  and  convenience.  It  is  here  that  the  im¬ 
mense  stock  of  clothing  and  shoes  is  kept ;  while 
across  the  street,  and  one  block  farther  west,  in 
a ‘handsome  store  building  which  was  erected  by 
the  firm  about  fourteen  years  ago,  they  have  a 
verv  full  and  coini)lete  line  of  dry  goods.  Mr. 
('.oldstein  and  Morris  Kleeman  give  their  per¬ 
sonal  attention  to  this  department  of  the  business 
while  Mr.  Kleeman,  himself,  superintends  the 
clothing  and  shoe  department. 

When  twenty-three  years  old.  Mr.  Kleeman 
took  unto  himself  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Rose  Reiter,  of  Cincinnati.  Miss  Reiter  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  but  came  to  .America  some 
time  before  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Kleeman.  To 
them  were  born  four  children,  viz  :  Morris,  Sam¬ 
uel  E.,  I’hilip  S..  and  Fanny.  The  familiar  quo¬ 
tation  : 


"'I'here  is  no  tlock,  however  watched  and  tended. 

l)Ut  one  dead  lamb  is  there! 

'I'liere  is  no  fireside,  howsoe’er  defended, 

Rnt  has  one  vacant  chair!" 

does  not  hold  good  in  regard  to  this  family,  for 
the  circle  has  not  been  destroyed  by  the  Reaper. 
Death.  Morris  Kleeman  is  a  res])ected  citizen 
of  Shelbyville.  and  is  the  junior  partner  of  the 
firm  of  which  his  father  is  the  head.  Samuel  E. 
-  and  I’hilip  S.  are  located  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana, 
and  are  carrying  on  a  very  successful  business  in 
the  dry  goods  line.  Miss  Eanny  married  Air.  A. 
Wertheimer,  a  cattle  commission  merchant  of 
Chicago,  in  which  city  they  reside. 

It  can  be  said  that  the  race  prejudice  which 
commonly  obtains  against  tlnjse  of  the  nation¬ 
ality  of  Mr.  Kleeman,  has  been  overcome  in  its 
entirety  in  this  instance,  by  the  honest  business 
methods,  the  innate  courtesy  and  u])right  char¬ 
acter  of  this  gentleman,  than  whom  there  are  no 
more  highly  honored  and  respected  in  the  busi¬ 
ness  life  of  this  county.  He  is  also  a  ])rominent 
member  of  the  County  Commission  of  Charity, 
having  been  appointed  to  that  office  by  Gov. 
-Alttjeid,  several  vears  since. 

In  1899,  Mr.  Kleeman  made  a  trip  to  the 
" Fatherland"  and  visited  the  place  of  his  birth, 
which  awakened  in  him  many  fond  recollections 
of  boyhood  days. 

* 

EDGAR  D.  KERR.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Edgar  D.  Kerr  was  born  in  DeGraiif, 
tjhio,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1866.  His  par¬ 
ents,  Joseph  and  Salome  (Hudson)  Kerr,  are 
natives  of  \'irginia.  The  father  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents  when  but  an  infant ;  the  mother 
came  while  still  in  her  girlhood.  Though,  of 
course,  Mr.  Joseph  Kerr  has  no  recollection  of 


234 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


the  somewhat  protracted  trip  which 
brought  him  to  this  state,  he  has  heard  from 
the  lips  of  his  parents,  the  recital  of  an  exper¬ 
ience  .which  came  near  causing  his  death.  The 
journey  was  made  by  wagon  ;  and,  while  cross¬ 
ing  the  great  Natural  Bridge  in  X’irginia,  the  in¬ 
fant  Joseph  was  thrown  from  the  vehicle,  nar¬ 
rowly  escaping  destruction,  by  a  most  fortunate 
circumstance — a  feather-bed,  which  chanced  to 
he  among  the  home-seeker’s  efifects,  ])erformed 
the  kindly  office  of  spreading  itself  upon  the 
rock,  a  fraction  of  a  second  before  the  babe 
reached  it,  thus  perfectly  breaking  the  fall. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Kerr  were  genuine 
pioneers.  In  1869.  they  moved  to  Logan  coun¬ 
ty.  Illinois.  After  six  years  spent  there,  they 
again  turned  their  faces  westward  and  continued 
their  home-seeking  until  they  settled  in  ( )conee. 
Shelby  county.  In  1879.  Mr.  Kerr  ])urchased 
the  property  near  Tower  Hill  where  he  still  re¬ 
sides.  From  his  early  life  to  the  present  time, 
he  has  been  an  agriculturist,  and  though  now 
somewhat  advanced  in  years,  is  remarkably  well 
preserved  and  prosecutes  his  work  with  vigor 
and  success. 

Dr.  Kerr  s])ent  his  boyhood  at  home  with 
his  parents.  I'nlike  some  rural  ])eo])le,  it  was 
their  desire  to  see  their  children  well  educated. 
Edgar  received  .such  training  as  a  district 
school  afforded,  and  in  the  year  1887 —  '88  grati¬ 
fied  one  of  his  ambitions,  by  attending  a  high 
school.  While  yet  a  youth,  his  mind  became 
deeply  impressed  by  the  genial,  courtlv  demean¬ 
or  of  an  aged  practitioner  who  was  the  family 
physician  of  the  Kerrs.  This  influence  awaken¬ 
ed  the  desire  to  emulate  the  life  of  this  “doctor 
of  the  old  school."  Hence,  the  life  of  Edgar  has 
been  characterized  by  devotion  to  studv.  Soon 
after  reaching  his  majority,  he  began  teaching 


school,  which  calling  he  followed  at  broken  in¬ 
tervals  for  several  years.  The  doctor  used  the 
medium  of  i)edagogy  as  the  financier  of  his  ad¬ 
vanced  educational  plans.  Like  many  another, 
he  found  in  a  few  months  in  the  school  room, 
the  means  to  pursue  his  studies  in  one  of  the 
higher  institutions. 

I'or  three  years  .Mr.  Kerr  studied  medieine 
under  Dr.  J.  H.  Miller.  This  study  was  per¬ 
formed  in  addition  to  his  regular  work  in  the 
school  room  ;  which  characterizes  the  doctor  as 
a  man  of  jrluck  and  endurance.  In  the  year 
1889.  he  entered  the  Northern  Normal,  at  Dixon, 
Illinois,  where  he  received  his  literary  and  scien¬ 
tific  training.  The  year  1891,  found  him  a 
student  in  the  medieal  department  of  the  L'ni- 
versity  of  Illinois,  otherwise  known  as  The  Chi¬ 
cago  College  of  IMiysicians  and  Surgeons.  In 
this  school  Mr.  Kerr  received  credit  for  one 
year's  work  already  done,  hence  he  was  graduat¬ 
ed  as  an  M,  1).  in  the  class  of  ’(;4.  Immediately 
after  graduation,  the  doctor  formed  a  partner- 
shi])  with  Dr.  O.  A.  Smith,  now  deceased,  and 
began  the  ])ractice  of  medicine  at  Henton,  Shel¬ 
by  eounty,  Illinois. 

(hi  November  29th.  1896,  the  wedding  bells 
rang  for  Dr.  ILlgar  1).  Kerr  and  Miss  .Miihretta 
Carvin ;  the  marriage  ceremony  being  per¬ 
formed  in  the  city  of  Shelbyville.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Kerr  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  and  Mary 
(I’ogue)  Garvin.  .-\lmost  immediately  after 
marriage.  Dr.  Kerr  began  his  practice  in  Bruns¬ 
wick,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  noble  jiro- 
fession  of  his  choice.  To  Mr.  Kerr  and  wife 
have  been  born  two  children,  Joseph  E..  and 
Mary  S.  With  the  birth  of  these  little  ones, 
thus  enlarging  and  brightening  the  home  circle, 
the  doctor  could  have  joined  with  the  hero  of 
J.  G.  Holland's  ‘‘Kathrina,"  saying; 


235 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


"Another  fount 

( )f  lunnan  love  gurgled  to  meet  my  lips. 
Another  store  of  good,  as  rich  as  pure, 

In  its  own  kind,  as  that  from  which  1  drank, 
W'as  thus  discovered  to  my  taste,  and  1 
Feasted  upon  its  fulness." 

Dr.  Kerr  is  a  member  of  the  following  fra¬ 
ternal  orders:  I',  and  .\.  ^1.,  Woodmen  of 
.\merica,  Royal  Circle  and  the  Modern  .\mer- 
cians.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  subjoined 
medical  associations:  American,  State  of  Illi¬ 
nois,  Central  District,  and  Shelby  Coumy.  riie 
doctor  is  one  of  the  three  county  health  officers 
appointed  by  the  state  board.  As  a  physician. 
Dr.  Kerr  has  an  e.xcellent  reputation,  liis  prac¬ 
tice  is  e.xtensive  and  his  services  satisfactory. 
'1  he  community  in  which  he  resides  prizes  him 
not  alone  in  his  professional  capacity,  hut  he  is 
respected  as  a  citizen  and  gentleman.  Mrs. 
Kerr,  also,  has  a  large  place  in  the  hearts  of  the 
countrv-folk  among  whom  she  lives.  The 
place  of  esteem  now  occupied  by  this  young 
family  is  the  natural  result  of  patient,  persistent, 
and  honest  endeavor;  it  is  the  ripened  fruit  of 
previous  tilling  and  sowing. 

;K  if  if  if 

Jl'DC'.E  TRCMAX  E.  AMES. 

( )n  the  second  day  of  the  middle  year  of 
the  present  century,  there  was  horn,  in  DeKalb, 
St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York,  a  boy  who 
was  destined  to  become  one  of  the  most  prom¬ 
inent  amongst  the  "legal  lights”  of  Shelby 
countv.  This  was  Truman  IL  .\mes,  of  whom 
we  write  this  biographical  sketch,  and  of  whom 
honorable  mention  is  made  in  the  chapter  on 
"The  liar,”  in  this  volume.  He  was  the  oldest 
of  four  boys  born  to  Luman  W’.  and  Jane(Armin) 
-Ames,  who  are  now  retired  and  spending  their 


declining  years  ])leasantly  in  their  home  in  Pots¬ 
dam.  X.  V..  to  which  they  removed  some  years 
since.  Milton  E.  .\mes,  the  second  of  the  boys, 
has  been  for  years,  and  still  is,  a  resident  of 
Kalamazoo.  ^Michigan,  and  an  engineer  on  the 
(jrand  Rapids  &  Indiana  R.  R.  The  third  son, 
Ceylon  W’.,  who,  by  the  way,  was  named  for  the 
island  of  Ceylon,  is  a  resident  of  Centralia,  Illi¬ 
nois,  and  was,  until  the  loss  of  his  sight,  a  loco¬ 
motive  inspector.  Jiukson  T.  resides  in  W  ater- 
town.  X.  V.,  and  is  a  trusted  engineer  on  the 
Xew  York  Central. 

Truman  received  instruction  in  the  district 
schools  until  his  thirteenth  year,  when  he  was 
sent  t(.)  the  (iraded  Schools  of  Harmon,  Xew 
^’ork.  .\fter  several  years  there,  he,  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  began  teaching  school,  continuing 
therein  hjr  several  terms.  .Afterwards,  he  at¬ 
tended  the  Potsdam  State  Xormal  and  Training 
school,  and  took  a  thorough  course.  W  hen  but 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Shelby 
county,  locating  at  Windsor,  where  he  was  en¬ 
gaged  as  principal  of  the  public  schools.  One 
of  the  teachers  associated  with  him  in  that  school 
was  11.  J.  Handin,  present  Attorney  (Rmeral  of 
this  state,  who  was  Mr.  Ames’  predecessor  as 
prmcipal  of  the  school,  and  continued  as  such 
for  one  year,  while  Air.  .Ames  taught  in  one  of 
the  other  departments. 

After  retiring  from  the  Windsor  schools, 
Mr.  Ames  again  took  up  the  study  of  law,  which 
he  had  begun  in  Xew  A"ork.  Recognizing  the 
merits  of  the  Alichigan  University,  he  entered 
its  law  department  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  within 
two  years,  or  in  1877,  he  graduated  therefrom, 
and  returned  to  Illinois,  practicing  law  for  one 
year  in  Rockford.  Mr.  .Ames  says  he  sometimes 
regrets  not  having  remained  there,  but  on  the 
whole  deems  himself  as  well  ofif,  ])rofessionally, 
as  though  he  had.  An  intimate  friend  and  as- 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


sociate  of  liis  younger  days  now  occupies  a  po¬ 
sition  there,  like  unto  tlie  one  which  Mr.  Ames 
now  holds. 

From  W  indsor,  where  Mr.  Ames  practiced 
until  1880,  he  came  to  Shelby ville,  and  has  made 
his  residence  here  during  the  twenty  years  in¬ 
tervening  between  then  and  the  present.  He 
secured  a  good  and  lucrative  practice,  and  won 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  legal  associates 
and  of  the  people ;  so  that  in  1886,  he  was  elected 
as  County  Judge.  So  universally  well-liked  was 
he,  and  become  so  popular  as  an  incumbent  of 
this  office,  that  he  was  re-elected  for  two  suc¬ 
ceeding  terms,  holding  the  position  for  ten 
years  in  all,  being  called  to  another  jiosition 
when  his  third  term  was  but  half  completed. 

"There  is  a  destiny  which  shapes  our  ends. 
Rough-hew  them  as  we  may,” 

so  still  greater  honors  were  to  be  given  Mr. 
Ames,  for  at  the  last  Judicial  election,  in  June 
of  1897,  he  was  elevated  to  the  Rench  of  the  Cir¬ 
cuit,  composed  of  the  following  namecrcounties  : 
Shelby.  Montgomery.  Fayette,  Christian,  Ef¬ 
fingham,  Jasper,  Clay,  Marion  and  Clinton  ;  be¬ 
ing  the  4th  Judicial  Circuit  of  Illinois.  His  duties 
as  Circuit  Judge  he  has  ever  iierformed  “with¬ 
out  fear  or  favor."  and  is  one  of  the  most  jioini- 
lar  Judges  ever  occupying  the  Rench  of  this 
Circuit. 

W'e  must  not  proceed  further  without  mak¬ 
ing  mention  of  the  beautiful  and  happy  home- 
life  of  Judge  Ames.  In  May  of  1874,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  one  of  Windsor’s  most 
popular  and  charming  young  ladies.  Miss  Dora 
Hilsabeck,  daughter  of  James  A.  and  Sarah  J. 
flilsabeck,  of  that  town.  Mr.  Hilsabeck  was  a 
native  of  Shelbyville.  Mrs.  Hilsabeck  now  re¬ 
sides  in  Stewardson.  the  widow  of  him  who 
died  there  in  ]\Iay  of  1898. 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ames  has  been  born  one 
child,  now  a  young  man  of  sterling  cjualities. 
who  is  taking  his  last  year  in  the  Dental 
College  in  Indianapolis.  The  entire  familv  are 
members  of  the  First  M.  IC.  church  here,  the 
Judge  being  a  member  of  the  official  board  of 
the  same. 

.\mongst  the  ways  m  which  Judge  Ames 
has  served  the  public,  was  in  the  capacity  of 
member  of  the  Roard  of  h'ducation,  which  posi¬ 
tion  he  held  for  six  years;  also  as  City  Attorney, 
to  which  ])osition  he  was  appointed  by  a  Repub¬ 
lican  mayor  and  council,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  of  his  being  a  staunch  Democrat.  This  ac¬ 
tion  clearly  attests  his  ])()pularit\.  He  was 
serving  his  second  term  as  such  attorney,  when 
called  ti)  the  office  of  County  Judge.  As  has 
been  intimated,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  ever 
been  very  active  and  zealous  in  sup])t)rting  the 
men  and  measures  of  his  party. 

I'raterually.  Mr.  .\mes  is  a  member  of  God¬ 
frey  de  Roullion  Commaudery.  Xo.  44,  of  Mat- 
toou  :  Jaskson  Lodge,  Xo.  53.  A.  F.  cX  M.; 
Rlack  Hawk  Lodge.  Xo.  83,  1\.  of  1’..  and  Uni¬ 
form  Rank  Xo.  40.  Personally,  it  is  a  i)leasure  to 
meet  Judge  Ames,  as  he  is  a  very  approachable 
and  courteous  gentleman,  having  none  of  that 
austerity  about  him,  which  is  so  often  noted  in 
men  who  have  been  exalted  to  positions  such  as 
he  occuities :  and  a  caller  at  his  comfortable  and 
])leasant  home  on  Rroadway.  is  ever  sure  of  a 
pleasurable  reception  by  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
.\mes. 

❖  *  *  * 

HEXRV  MILLER. 

It  becomes  our  pleasurable  task  to  record  a 
brief  ei)itome  of  the  life  of  another  old  and  well- 
kuowu  and  res])ected  resident  of  Shelby  county. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  liaving  fought  in  the 
L'nion  ranks  upon  Southern  battlefields — ilenry 
.Miller,  of  the  township  of  ( )kaw. 

'I'he  i8th  of  February,  1817,  was  the  day  of 
his  birth,  and  the  county  of  Somerset,  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  the  l)lace.  lie  was  the  only  boy  among 
four  children  born  to  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Robin¬ 
son)  Miller.  Mrs.  .Miller  was  English-born,  but 
came  to  America  wlien  a  babe  of  six  months. 
.Mr.  .\liller  was  of  (lerman  descent,  but  born  in 
•  Mnerica.  He  was  a  farmer  and  drover,  l)uying 
cattle  in  summer  and  horses  in  winter,  for  the 
llaltimore  market.  I'pon  many  of  these  over¬ 
land  trips  did  young  Henry  go,  assisting  his 
father  principally  in  the  management  of  the 
horses.  .-\  night  school  was  the  only  one  ever 
attended  by  him,  but  the  lack  of  "schooling"  has 
been  largely  su])plied  by  a  keen  percei)tion  and 
sound  sense. 

Mr.  Miller's  first  .sojourn  awa\  from  the 
])arental  home,  was  a  year,  s])ent  in  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  where  he  worked  in  a  sawmill,  and 
from  whence  he  returned  home  with  one  hun¬ 
dred  dollars  in  his  jmeket.  In  1856  he  came  to 
feffer.son  county.  Indiana,  remaining  there  until 
1859,  when  he  removed  to  Rushville,  Illinois. 
Two  years  later  he  went  to  lleardstown,  Illinois, 
at  which  place,  on  the  loth  of  .\ugust  of  the 
succeeding  year,  he  enlisted  in  115  Illinois.  Com- 
l)anv  1),  and  remained  until  fall,  in  Caihp  Ilut- 
ler.  h'rom  there,  he  went  with  his  regiment  to 
Covington,  Ky.,  where  they  received  arms  and 
ammunition.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Xash-^ 
ville  and  Franklin,  and  at  the  latter  place  as¬ 
sisted  in  the  building  of  Fort  Granger.  He 
fought  valiantly  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
and  aided  in  the  capture  of  Hood's  department, 
at  Decatur,  .\labama.  He  also  took  active  part 
in  the  famous  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain  and 
.Missionary  Ridge,  and  was  with  Sherman  on 


his  memorable  march  "from  .Atlanta  to  the 
Sea."  (jranger  and  Rosecrans  were  the  two 
generals  under  whose  command  he  fought, 
thoughout  the  war. 

In  all  his  experience  in  battle,  Mr.  Miller 
was  never  wounded,  but  on  more  than  one  oc¬ 
casion,  had  his  clothing  riddled  with  bullets ; 
which  shows  that  danger  is  indeed  i)resent  with 
the  boys  who  stand  at  their  [Hjst  in  the  ranks  on 
the  battlefields. 

( )n  the  23rd  of  February,  1868,  .Mr.  Aliller 
and  Miss  Tobisa  llelens  were  united  in  mar¬ 
riage.  Miss  Helens  was  the  daughter  of  Ohio 
parents,  but  who  were  at  the  time  of  her  mar¬ 
riage,  residing  in  Shelbyville.  'I'here  were  twcj 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Midler;  .Annie, 
who  became  the  wife  of  William  .\.  Camj),  of 
the  southern  part  of  the  state,  and  afterward,  in 
1898,  died;  and  John,  who  remains  at  home, 
the  stay  of  his  parents  in  their  declining  years. 

.\t  the  close  of  the  war,  and  after  receiving 
an  honorable  di.scharge,  Mr.  Miller  spent  a 
couple  of  years  on  the  Illinois  river,  and  then 
coming  here,  worked  on  a  farm  for  .Alex.  Boys 
one  year.  .After  his  marriage,  however,  he 
leased  a  farm  until  1870,  when  he  bought  the 
farm  in  Section  28,  of  Okaw  township,  u])on 
which  he  still  lives.  .A  year  ago  he  sold  forty 
acres  of  land,  but  still  has  one  hundred  twenty 
acres. 

.At  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-three  Mr. 
.Miller  is  hale  and  hearty,  takes  a  part  in  the  farm 
labor,  and  drives  to  the  city  once  or  twice  each 
week.  He  is  respected  in  his  neighborhood  and 
amongst  all  who  know  him.  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  .A.  R.,  and  has  been  school  director  of  his  dis¬ 
trict  several  times. 

Air.  Miller  had  a  part  in  the  develo]nnent  of 
the  country  in  the  early  part  of  the  century,  hav¬ 
ing  peeled  ties  for  the  first  railroad  in  the  Lhiited 


PHILIP  PAKKItU.  KHV.  J.  H.  KPLHK. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


States,  and  was  with  John  Onincv  Adams  when 
lie  launched  the  first  steam-boat  on  the  Alle¬ 
ghany  river. 

*  *  4=  * 

JAMES  BOXXELL  ISEXI5ERG. 

The  subject  of  this  review,  one  of  Shelb\ 
ville's  prominent  business  men,  was  born  near 
Petersburg,  Pennsylvania,  January  24,  1845. 
The  family  of  which  he  is  a  member,  desTCuds 
from  Gerlach  \'on  Isenberg,  of  Germany,  in  the 
year  y66.  This  family,  which  is  a  royal  one. 
continues  to  hold  its  place  in  the  affairs  of  the 
(■erman  Empire.  Karl  Isenberg  is  today  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Prussian  House  of  Lords. 

James  P>.  Isenberg’s  boyhood  days  were 
s])ent  on  the  farm  of  his  father  in  Pennsylvania. 
W  hen  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he_  enlisted,  and 
sjjent  two  years  in  active  military  service,  as  a 
member  of  Company  K.  22nd  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Winchester, 
and  saw  Phil  Sheridan  when  he  arrived  within 
the  lines,  after  his  memorable  ride,  from  which 
originated  the  famous  ])oem,  "Sheridan's  Ride." 

.\fter  receiving  an  honorable  di.schargc  from 
the  service  of  Uncle  Sam,  and  in  1867.  }tlr.  Isen¬ 
berg  came  to  Illinois,  and  obtained  employ¬ 
ment  in  the  wholesale  Book  and  Stationery 
House  of  S.  A.  IMaxwell  &  Co.,  of  Bloomington, 
as  porter.  P)y  diligence  and  close  ai)plication  to 
his  employers'  interests,  he  worked  his  way 
through  each  branch  of  the  business  and  when 
he  left  their  employ  he  had  been  traveling  sales¬ 
man  for  several  years. 

In  December  of  1880,  Mr.  Isenberg  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mollie  Parker,  the 
accomplished  daughter  of  Philo  and  Demma 
Parker,  of  Shelbyville.  To  this  union  have  been 
born,  whose  names  are  as  follows :  James  Bon- 


nell,  Zoe  Parker,  Philo  James,  David  Brnce  and 
Lula  Fay.  Two.  James  B.  and  Philo  J.,  died  in 
infancy. 

In  1882  Mr.  Isenberg  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business,  from  which  time  he  has  been 
a  leading  rei)resentative  of  that  business  in  the 
city.  He  is  a  great  lover  of  music,  and  has 
been  for  years  identified  with  the  musical  people 
of  Shelbyville.  He  is  a  member  of  the  famous 
McKinley  (Juartet.  which  is  well  known 
throughout  the  state.  He  is  an  ardent  republican 
in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist 
church. 

Mrs.  Isenberg  is  the  only  daughter  of  her 
j)arents,  is  a  cultured  and  refined  lady,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Shelbyville  High  school  and 
the  Woman's  College,  of  Evanston.  The  family 
occuiiies  a  prominent  place  in  the  society  circles 
of  the  city. 

*  *  *  * 

PHILIP  PARKER. 

.\  little  more  than  seventy  years  ago.  the 
subject  of  this  review  was  born  on  his'  father's 
farm,  in  Saratoga  county.  Xew  York,  he  and 
his  brother  Philo,  whose  biogra])hy  also  a])- 
pears  in  tins  volume,  being  twins.  May  8.  1830. 
was  the  day  of  his  birth.  The  father.  Samuel 
Parker,  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  his  county, 
whose  death  occurred  in  1863.  Mrs.  Parker, 
who  died  in  1848.  was  a  daughter  of  a  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Du  Bois.  also  residents  of  Saratoga  county. 

The  school  life  of  Philij)  Parker,  was  all 
spent  in  the  common  school  of  his  own  district, 
though  his  business  activity  and  contact  with 
the  world  has  given  him  an  excellent  knowledge 
of  men  and  affairs.  When  about  seventeen  years 
of  age.  Philip  left  home,  going  to  Syracuse, 
where  he  remained  until  his  marriage.  It  was 


239 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


while  here,  that  on  January  27,  1853,  he  was 
united  in  niarriaj^e  to  Miss  Helen  Schuyler,  a 
native  of  ( fnondaj^'o  county,  her  parents,  Philip 
and  l^ent  (Pecker)  Schuyler,  beinjj  ])ioneers  of 
Syracuse.  They  established  their  home  there 
very  soon  after  the  completion  of  the  Erie  canal, 
and  before  a  railroad  had  found  its  way  throuj^h 
that  section  of  the  Empire  state,  where  there  is 
now  such  a  jierfect  railway  system  and  complete 
passenger  and  mail  service.  The  jiarents  of  Mrs. 
Parker  were  of  German  descent,  and  died  some 
\ears  ago,  in  the  home  where  they  had  lived  for 
so  lomr.  Mrs.  Parker  comes  from  a  verv  old 
and  resiiectable  family,  of  which  (leneral  Schuy¬ 
ler,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  was  a  prominent 
member. 

.After  residing  in  Syracuse  for  si.\  years  after 
their  marriage.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Parker  removed 
to  Shelby  county,  settling  upon  a  farm,  where 
thev  remained  for  several  years.  The  third  year 
after  taking  u])  their  residence  upon  the  farm, 
their  home  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and  was 
to  them  a  total  loss,  as  they  had  no  insurance 
upon  it.  Mr.  I’arker  gratefully  remembers  tbe 
kindness  of  a  neighbor  wbo  signified  his  inten¬ 
tion  of  "taking  up  a  collection"  to  assist  in  the 
rebuilding  of  the  home  destroyed  liy  fire.  This, 
however,  Mr.  Parker  would  not  permit,  prefer¬ 
ring  that  the  kindness  and  generosity  should  be 
extended  to  others  who  might  be  in  more  actual 
need.  Such  generous  acts,  however,  were  no  un¬ 
common  thing  in  the  early  days  of  our  country, 
and  serve  to  illustrate  the  bond  which  united  the 
pioneers  in  mutual  helpfulness  and  friendliness. 

.After  leaving  the  farm  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker 
removed  to  Shelbyville,  and  now  occupy  a  very 
fine  and  commodious  residence  on  Broadway. 
Air.  Parker  purchased  the  ( )pera  House  block- 
in  1874.  and  is  the  possessor  of  other  business 
and  residence  property.  Aside  from  looking  after 


his  agricultural  interests  to  which  he  devotes 
considerable  time,  he  has,  for  years,  dealt  ex¬ 
tensively  in  real  estate. 

Air.  Parker  is  not  a  i)olitician,  and  has 
never  plucked  or  received  any  political  “plmii.” 
I  lowever,  he  has  been  a  staunch  Republican 
from  the  incei)tion  of  that  party.  He  is  not  con¬ 
nected  with  any  church  organization,  but  has  a 
pn^found  res])ect  for  any  creed  or  denomination 
w  hich  has  an  elevating  moral  tendency  and  in¬ 
fluence,  and  attends  with  his  wife,  the  services 
of  the  Eirst  Alethodist  church,  of  which  Airs. 
Parker  is  a  member. 

In  the  commerical  circles  of  Shelbyville,  Air. 
Parker  bears  the  reputation  of  an  honorable  and 
u])right  business  man,  who  has  ever  dealt  justly 
with  those  with  whom  he  has  had  any  business 
transacitons. 

if.  if 

JOHN  A.  TACKICTT. 

Sixty-eight  years  ])rior  to  the  28th  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  1900,  the  subject  of  this  review  was  born 
to  Air.  and  Airs.  John  Tackett,  natives  of  \’ir- 
ginia.  Air.  Tackett  was  born  in  Prince  AA’illiam 
county,  afterward  removing  to  Stafford  county, 
from  whence  he  came  to  Shelby  in  1829,  and 
lived  here  until  his  death,  thirty-one  years  later. 
His  wife  was  Aliss  Enfield  Alason,  born  in  the 
county  of  Stafford  and  lived  until  1837.  John  A. 
Tackett  was  one  of  three  boys  born  to  this 
cou])le,  the  others  being  Charles  A.,  born  in 
1817,  and  who  died  in  1866;  and  William  J.,  born 
in  1827,  and  who  still  resides  in  the  city  of  Shel¬ 
byville.  There  is  also  a  half-sister  of  the  boys, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Air.  Ed.  Ho])kins,  the  drug¬ 
gist  ;  and  there  was  a  half-brother,  George 
Tackett,  who  died  about  1869. 

John  A.  Tackett  received  his  education  from 


240 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


the  schools  an<l  college  of  Shelbyville,  and  Paris, 
Illinois,  respectively,  and  later  engaged  as  clerk 
in  a  dry  goods'  store.  Noting  the  possibilities 
of  making  money  in  the  buying  and  selling  of 
stock,  he  afterward  engaged  in  that  business, 
laying  the  foundation  for  the  comfortable  for¬ 
tune  he  has  since  acquired.  Jn  about  the  year 
1850,  Mr.  Tackett  with  Joseph  Sutton  and  John 
M.  Thornton  as  partners,  established  a  grocery 
store,  and  for  about  25  years  continued  the  same, 
working  up  and  retaining  a  right  good  trade  in 
their  line  of  goods.  In  1875,  Mr.  Thornton  be¬ 
came  sole  proprietor  of  the  grocery,  and  Mr. 
Tackett  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  broker,  and 
also  supervised  several  farms  which  he  had  ac- 
(piired. 

Early  in  the  year  1880,  Mr.  Tackett  took 
unto  himself  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Flora 
X.  Cash.  Her  parents  are  Henry  H.  'and 
Rebecca  Cash,  then  of  Westfield,  Illinois,  but 
who  are  now  spending  their  declining  years  m 
the  city  of  Shelbyville.  One  daughter  has  been 
the  issue  of  this  marriage — Irma,  who  was  born 
on  the  3rd  day  of  November,  1880.  and  who  is 
finishing  her  education  in  a  Young  Ladies’ 
school  in  the  city  of  Washington.  I).  C.  Miss 
Tackett  is  a  very  estimable  young  lady,  and  has 
a  host  of  friends  and  admirers  in  Shelbyville. 

It  has  been  the  lot  of  i\lr.  Tackett  to  be  suc¬ 
cessful  in  all  his  business  enterprises.  He  is  of 
an  aggressively  energetic  nature,  and  that  to 
which  he  gives  his  attention  and  support  is  ver\- 
likely  to  be  prosecuted  to  a  satisfactory  consum¬ 
mation.  His  business  methods  are  above  criti¬ 
cism,  and  he  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  con¬ 
temporaries.  Upon  the  institution  of  the  Coun¬ 
ty  State  Rank,  Mr.  Tackett  was  chosen  by  the 
Directors  as  its  vice-president,  and  is  still  an  in¬ 
cumbent  of  that  office  of  trust.  For  vears  he  was 
one  of  the  councilmen  of  the  city  in  whicdi  he 


lives,  and  assisted  very  materially  in  carrving  on 
w  isely,  the  affairs  of  the  same. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tackett  occupy  a  beautiful 
residence  on  North  Rroadway,  and  enjoy,  to  an 
enviable  degree,  the  esteem  of  the  society  in 
which  they  move. 

V  V  ••• 

11.  I'.RL'CF  TROUT. 

The  subject  of  this  biography.  11.  15.  Trout, 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Paris,  Illinois,  in  the 
year  i85(>.  He  was  the  son  of  1).  S.  Trout,  who 
died  in  Areola  about  eleven  years  since.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Jannette  Mc¬ 
Cormick,  who  is  still  a  resident  of  .\rcola.  He 
received  a  common  and  high  school  education, 
and  was  ever  of  a  mechanical  turn  of  mind 
which  later  led  him  into  his  jiresent  career.  I  le 
received  no  inheritance  from  his  jiarents  e.xcejit 
that  of  a  rugged  constitution  and  an  honest,  up¬ 
right  character,  which  he  has  preserved  to  the 
])resent.  \\  hen  but  seven  years  of  age,  he  re¬ 
moved  with  his  parents  to  .\rcola.  where  he  re¬ 
mained  until  his  eighteenth  year,  a  student  in 
the  schools  of  that  jdace.  h'rom  that  time  on. 
for  a  jieriod  of  fifteen  years,  he  was  engaged  in 
a  diversity  of  juirsuits  in  various  ])laces.  ranging 
from  Indiana  to  Wyoming. 

In  Se])tember.  1883.  i\lr.  Trout  took  unto 
himself  a  wife,  in  the  person  of  Miss  India  Coon, 
of  Mattoon,  the  daughter  of  David  and  Zelia 
Coon.  Her  father,  who  is  now  deceased,  was  at 
that  time  a  prosperous  shoe  dealer  of  Mattoon. 
Mrs.  Coon  is  now  a  resident  of  Indianapolis.  To 
^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Trout  has  been  born  one  daugh¬ 
ter.  Miss  Ruby,  a  bright,  intelligent  girl  of  fif¬ 
teen  summers. 

I'pon  their  removal  to  Shelbyville.  Mrs. 
Trout,  who  had  had  twenty-three  years'  exper- 


241 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


icnce  as  a  triiiinier,  i)iirchase<l  the  millinery  busi¬ 
ness  of  Mrs.  M.  Sutton,  who  had  been  in 
business  here  for  a  number  of  years.  Though 
without  any  previous  experience  in  the  eonduct 
of  such  an  enterprise  for  herself,  Mrs.  Trout  was 
eminently  successful  from  the  very  first,  and  has 
enjoyed  a  large  i)atronage  tct  the  ])resent.  About 
the  close  of  her  first  year  here,  she  suffered  the 
loss  of  her  profits,  through  the  Thornton  bank 
failure,  hut  was  gratified  in  that  it  did  not  finan¬ 
cially  embarrass  her. 

.\l)out  nine  years  ago  Mr.  'rrout  came  to 
Shelhyvillc  and  opened  a  jobbing  machine  shop. 
The  firm  of  Trout  Urothers  was  established,  of 
which  he  was  the  senior  mendjer.  In  the  same 
year  they  began  the  manufacture  of  highway 
bridges,  between  which  time  and  1897,  they  con¬ 
structed  about  one  hundred  fifty  such  bridges. 
In  this  latter  year,  the  building  of  bridges  hav¬ 
ing  become  imitrofitable  through  competition 
and  certain  rulings  of  the  Hoard  of  Supervisors, 
they  discontinued  this  branch  of  the  business, 
but  still  continue  the  machine  shop  under  the 
same  firm  name.  In  1895  they  ])ut  in  an  electric 
light  plant,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present 
have  furnished  the  electric  light  of  the  city, 

Mr.  Trout  is  not  at  all  backward  in  pro¬ 
nouncing  himself  a  Democrat,  but  has  never 
held  any  elective  office.  He  was,  however,  sup- 
e; intendent  of  the  Water  Works  for  four  years. 

Mrs.  Trout  and  Miss  Ruby  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  the  family 
occupy  a  prominent  place  in  social  circles. 

;J:  j}s  iK 

ANTDREW  ELMER  AXD  EAMILY. 

For  thirty  years  and  more,  the  family,  of 
whom  we  pen  this  sketch,  has  been  well  known 
in,  and  closely  identified  with  the  develoitment 


of  the  southeastern  portion  of  Shelby  county. 
'I'he  late  .\lbert  Elmer  was  born  in  1  laden,  (k-r- 
many.  .\ugust  14,  1831.  lie  was  the  son  of 
Jacob  hV.  Elmer,  who,  wdth  his  family,  emi¬ 
grated  to  .America  and  settled  in  Hocking  coun¬ 
ty,  ( )hio,  in  1833.  In  this  Ohio  home  the  boy 
.\ndrew  grew  to  manhood's  estate,  and  on  the 
24th  of  May,  1854,  was  married  to  a  Miss  Ikuii- 
ner.  .As  has  been  indicated,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ldmer 
removed  from  (  )hio  to  Shelby  comity  in  1866, 
settling  u])on  a  farm.  In  the  same  year,  Mr. 
Elmer  united  with  the  (lerman  Lutheran  St. 
Haul’s  church,  at  Strasburg,  and  remained  a 
faithful  member  of  the  same  until  his  death 
thirty-two  years  later.  Sixteen  children  were 
born  to  this  cou])le.  mention  of  whom  we  make, 
as  follows:  Jacob  I'.  Elmer  was  born  in  Hock¬ 
ing  county,  ( )hio,  in  1854,  and  came  to  this 
county  with  his  parents.  When  he  attained  his 
majority  he  identified  himself  with  the  Demo¬ 
cratic  jiarty,  and  was  so  faithful  in  his  support 
of  the  princi])les  of  the  party  that  he  was  re¬ 
warded  at  the  election  of  1898.  by  receiving  the 
treasurershi])  of  the  county  for  the  succeeding 
term.  Mr.  Elmer  was  married  to  Miss  Matilda 
vStreng,  of  Richland  township,  and  five  children 
have  been  born  to  bless  the  union.  I  le  is  a  pojni- 
lar  incumbent  of  the  office  which  he  holds,  dis¬ 
charging  the  duties  thereof  in  a  manner  pleasing 
to  those  who  do  business  with  the  county 
treasurer.  Elizabeth,  born  September  29,  1855, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Y .  W.  Strohl,  of  Prairie  town¬ 
ship ;  Phebe,  born  January  8,  1857,  is  married 
to  Phillip  Kneller,  and  lives  in  Richland. 
.Andrew,  born  Alarch  3,  1858,  died  when  but  two 
years  of  age;  John  G.,  was  born  July  9,  i860,  is 
married,  and  lives  on  a  farm  m  Prairie :  Christina 
A'laggie  was  born  October  4,  1861,  and  is  still 
at  home,  keeping  house  for  the  aged  mother ; 
Mary  Plelen,  born  December  27,  1862,  is  now  a 


242 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


resident  of  Mattoon  ;  Matilda  Julia,  born  Janu¬ 
ary  30,  1864,  is  now  the  wife  of  Daniel  Krile,  of 
Richland ;  Henry  D.  was  horn  on  the  5th  of 
May  in  the  years  previous  to  that  in  which  the 
family  removed  to  Shelby  county.  lie  was  first 
married  to  Anna  W'eng-erlein,  who  was  horn  in 
Chicago,  July  20,  1862,  and  died  in  Stewardson. 
Januarv  26,  1894.  To  her  was  horn  one  child, 
Martha  E.,  November  25,  i8(;o.  The  second 
marriage  of  Henry  L'lmer  occurred  in  Steward- 
son,  on  April  18.  1895,  when  he  was  united  ‘o 
Minnie  Dwensing,  who  was  horn  in  Mattoon. 
February  15,  1873.  Three  bright  children  have 
been  horn  of  this  union;  Harold  H..  January  20. 
1896;  Alfred  A.,  October  16.  1897;  and  Carl  C.. 
Januarv  12,  1900.  Mr.  L’lmer  is  in  business  in 
Stewardson.  Sarah  Caroline  l'lmer.  was  horn 
in  Strashurg,  December  17,  1866,  and  died  in 
Effingham,  Illinois,  February  15,  1898;  William 
C..  born  July  1  1.  1868,  is  now  a  resident  of  Stras- 
burg;  Charles  1’.,  born  August  28.  1870  is  a  car- 
jienter  by  trade;  Emma  L..  born  June  21,  1873, 
is  a  resident  of  Prairie  township,  the  wife  of 
Hermann  W'angerlcin ;  Thomas  David  was  born 
March  28,  1867.  is  married  and  resides  in  Prairie  ; 
Mike  Pen  was  born  November  24.  1877,  and 
died  in  1889.  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  the 
youngest  of  these  sixteen  children  is  Martin 
Louis,  whose  birth  occurred  June  6.  1880.  and 
who  is  an  industrious  young  man,  who  remains 
at  home,  looking  after  the  affairs  of  his  mother. 

Mrs.  L’lmer  was  born  November  7.  1873, 

( )ld  Baltimore.  She  was  ever  a  faithful  hel])- 
meet  to  her  husliand,  with  whom  she  lived  in 
holy  wedlock  for  forty-four  years,  and  a  kind, 
indulgent  mother ;  and  now.  in  her  declining 
years  she  enjoys  the  love  and  confidence  of  her 
numorous  descendents  and  of  the  entire  com¬ 
munity  of  which  she  is  a  member. 


JAMES  W  ESLEY  LOX'LNS. 

James  W  esley  Lovins  was  one  of  Shelby 
county's  early  settlers.  He  came  here  in  the  fall 
of  1830.  driving  through,  in  a  two-wheel  cart, 
from  Tennessee.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina 
on  the  29th  day  of  January,  1807.  The  remote 
ancestry  of  Mr.  Lovins  was  doubtless  of  Irish 
origin.  His  parents  were  Hugh  and  Elizabeth 
(  h'orrest)  Lovins.  When  Mr.  Lovins  began  his 
journey  to  Illinois,  he  had  with  him,  as  a  maxi¬ 
mum  of  available  resources,  the  sum  of  eighteen 
dollars  in  silver  coin.  This  sum  must  have  be¬ 
come  nearly,  if  not  (luite.  exhausted  on  the  jour¬ 
ney.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  here,  he  suffered 
the  loss  of  his  only  horse  which  fell  from  a  bluff 
and  was  killed.  On  one  occasion  he  was  notified 
of  a  letter  in  waiting  for  him  at  the  post  office, 
on  which  there  was  due  twenty-five  cents.  Hav¬ 
ing  no  money  with  which  to  pay  the  i)ostage.  he 
was  obliged  to  delay  his  recei)tion  of  the  letter 
until  he  could  split  one  hundred  rails,  for  which 
labor  he  received  the  necessary  snm.  'Lhe-se  in¬ 
cidents  serve  to  show  the  privations  of  the  early 
settlers,  and  .some  of  the  obstacles  and  trials 
which  they  constantly  encountered. 

During  his  youth,  Mr.  Lovins  spent  his  days 
on  a  farm  in  Tennessee.  He  took  for  a  wife 
Miss  Miriam  Siler,  who  with  their  two  first  born 
children,  came  with  him.  in  the  cart,  from  their 
southern  home.  They  settled  near  \’()ung's 
Bridge  in  what  is  now  Moultrie  county.  .After¬ 
wards.  they  moved  to  a  ])lace  adjacent  to  the  .New 
Liberty  church,  for  which  structure  they  donated 
the  site.  From  this  ]ilace  they  never  rymoved. 
Mr.  Lovins  was  the  father  of  eight  children, 
whose  names  we  sub-join  in  the  order  of  their 
birth :  James  Wesley,  Benjamin,  .\ndrew, 

.\aron.  John  W..  .Alfred  B..  Wesley  C..  and 
Robert  Bracken. 


243 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Mr.  Levins  was  considered  a  snceessful 
business  man.  He  was  not  in  any  sense  of  the 
word  a  politician,  and  never  sought  or  held  a 
pnblic  office ;  yet,  notwithstanding,  he  was  in¬ 
tensely  interested  in  good  government.  In  early 
life  be  became  i)ersonally  accpiainted  with  An¬ 
drew  Jackson,  and  for  some  time  after  coming  to 
Illinois,  he  too,  was  dubbed  "Old  Hickory.  '  He 
may  be  styled,  politically,  a  Jacksonian  demo¬ 
crat.  Mr.  Lovins  was  one  of  the  orignial  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  before  mentioned, 
and  until  his  death  remained  a  faithful  member 
of  the  same.  Mrs.  Lovins  passed  from  earth 
January  23rd,  1846.  Xot  until  forty-seven  years 
had  elapsed  did  Mr.  Lovins  join  his  wife  in  the 
si)irit  world.  His  death  occurred  on  the  4th  of 
September,  1893;  and  this  man  who  had  often 
journeved  miles  on  horseback  to  attend  "meet¬ 
ing,"  was  borne  on  angel  wings  into  the  great 
"temple  not  made  with  hands.” 

*  =):  H=  * 

I’.KXJAMIX  HARR  I  SOX  LO\’IXS. 

( )n  the  15th  day  of  March,  A.  I).  1830,  Ren- 
jamin  H.  Lovins  was  born  into  a  humble  home 
in  Ledford  county,  Tennessee.  His  ancestry 
may  be  traced  by  reading  the  jjreceding 
biographical  sketch  of  James  \V.  Lov¬ 

ins.  The  life  of  Mr.  Lovins  is  almost  en¬ 
tirely  contemporary  with  the  history  of  Shelby 
countv.  He  recalls  very  vividly  the  days  when 
boys  were  sent  away  with  a  small  grist,  to  a  far 
distant  mill ;  such  journeys  being  made  on  horse¬ 
back.  When  he  returned  from  such  trij),  he 
found  three  fine  deer  hung  up  at  home.  His 
’  father  had  killed  the  three  deer  during  his  ab¬ 
sence.  ]'"rom  the  result  of  this  day’s  sport  we 
may  draw  a  fair  inference  as  to  the  abundance 
(jf  game  in  this  early  day.  Hogs  and  other  live 


-  stock  were  marketed  at  Terre  Haute,  being 
driven  through  in  large  droves.  Most  farm  i)ro- 
duce  found  its  market  in  St.  Louis,  and  it  was 
from  that  distant  point  most  family  supplies  were 
hauled.  As  may  be  surmised,  Mr.  Lovins  re¬ 
ceived  only  a  little  book  training,  but  his  busi¬ 
ness  and  industrial  education  were  in  advance  of 
the  ordinary.  In  the  year  1851,  Mr.  Lovins  was 
nnited  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  (jrider,  a 
daughter  of  Elder  'I'obias  (iHder  who,  for  many 
years,  was  one  of  Shelby’s  early  circuit  preachers. 
.Miss  (irider,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  having  been  born  in  Rut- 
nam  county.  Indiana.  1).  1832.  To  this 

couple  were  born  the  following  named  children  : 
h'lizabeth  .M.,  Tobias  \V.,  Lelle,  Susan.  I’eter  W., 
Jac(jb  .\..  and  Charles  \V.  Three  of  the  daugh¬ 
ters  and  two  of  the  sons  are  already  deceased — 
h'dizabeth  (.Miller),  I'obias.  and  Jacob  being  the 
only  living  ones.  Mrs.  Lovins  bade  her  husband 
and  children  a  last  farewell  on  the  21st  day  of 
.March,  1873.  and  her  “sjurit  returned  to  God.” 

In  January,  1877,  Mr.  Lovins  took  a  sec¬ 
ond  hel])meet  in  the  ])erson  of  Sarah  E.  Tur- 
rentine,  who  still  lives  to  cheer  his  declining 
years.  In  half  a  century,  he  has  not  moved  his 
residence  one-half  of  a  mile.  Mr.  Lovins  has 
ever  supported  the  national  democratic  ticket, 
but  in  local  matters  has  always  been  an  inde- 
])endent.  His  religious  and  home  life  can 
scarcely  receive  too  high  a  commendation.  His 
greatest  thought  has  ever  been  to  please  His 
Maker  and  "care  for  those  of  his  own  house¬ 
hold.”  For  more  than  forty  years  he  has  been 
an  official  member  of  the  church  at  Sand  Creek. 
He  has  reached  the  great  boundary  of  life  which 
is  set  at  "three  score  years  and  ten,”  but  is  still 
hale  and  hearty.  Truly  "The  hoary  head  is  a 
crown  of  glory,  if  he  be  found  in  the  way  of 
righteousness.” 


244 


A 


jAMKS  A.  BABB. 


•  • 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


TOBIAS  \V.  LOMXS. 

Tol)ias  A\'.  Lovins,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  horn  in  Windsor  township,  three  and 
one-half  miles  northwest  of  the  village  of  Wind¬ 
sor,  on  November  25,  1855.  He  is  the  eldest 
son  of  15.  H.  and  Mary  (Grider)  Lovins.  who 
still  live  on  the  old  homestead,  in  a  residence 
near  that  of  their  son.  ^Ir.  Lovins  spent  his 
boyhood  and  youth  upon  his  father's  farm,  re¬ 
ceiving  a  common  school  education  in  the  ad¬ 
jacent  schools.  He  was  ever  fond  of  farm  life, 
and  early  gave  evidence  of  his  adajitability  to 
successfully  carry  on  that  work.  At  the  age  of 
27  years,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ethel 
Wallace,  of  Windsor,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Miranda  (llruce)  Wallace.  Four  children  were 
born  to  them,  namely:  Foy  Otto,  Elsie  I'ay, 
Mabel  Florence  and  Mary  Bertha,  all  of  whom 
are  living;  and  the  eldest,  Foy,  is  attending  the 
State  University  at  Champaign.  Honor  is  due 
the  man,  who,  not  having  had  college  training 
himself,  still  recognizes  the  worth  of  it  and 
gladly  gives  to  his  children  the  advantages  of 
such  an  education. 

In  1890  Mr.  Lovins  associated  himself  with 
his  father,  in  the  hardware  and  implement  busi¬ 
ness  under  the  firm  name  of  15.  H.  &  T.  W.  Lov¬ 
ins,  which  business  was  conducted  in  the  village 
of  Windsor.  It  was  while  living  in  the  village  that 
Mr.  Lovins  suffered  the  loss  of  his  beloved  wife, 
who  died  on  the  lOth  of  January,  1891.  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  home  cemetery.  In  1895, 
hardware  business  was  disposed  of  to  \\’illiam 
Storm,  who  now  conducts  it.  and  Mr.  Lovins 
returned  to  the  farm  where  he  still  resides.  In 
the  year  following  he  constructed  what  is  un- 
(|uestionably  the  most  beautiful  and  substantial 
frame  dwelling  to  be  found  on  any  of  the  farms 
in  the  county  of  Shelbw  The  neatness  and  gen¬ 


eral  appearance  of  the  residence  are  attractive  to 
the  eye  as  one  nears  it.  The  interior  furnishings 
and  apjjointments  are  suggestive  of  great  com¬ 
fort  and  even  luxury  and  the  whole  indicates 
that  i\Ir.  Lovins  is  i)ossessed  of  native  refinement 
and  good  taste. 

Rural  life  has  ever  been  productive  of  sturdy 
and  unim])eachable  character,  and  in  the  de- 
vc!o])ment  of  this  princi])le.  Mr.  Lovins  is  no 
exce])tion.  Sharing  with  him  the  esteem  and 
good  will  of  the  entire  communitv  and  townshi]) 
in  which  they  live,  is  his  present  wife,  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  1899,  and  who  was  Margaret 
15aldwin,  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  (l)avi.s) 
Scroggin,  of  Windsor. 

\ 

J.\C()I5  A.  L()\  INS. 

Jacob  Alfred  Lovins,  tbe  second  son  of  15. 
H.  and  Mary  Lovins.  was  born  March  3,  1867, 
on  the  old  homestead  three  and  one-half  miles 
northwest  of  the  village  of  \\  indsor,  in  the  town¬ 
shi])  bearing  the  same  name. 

In  his  early  youth,  Mr.  Lovins  manifested  a 
naturally  studious  disposition,  and  by  close  aj)- 
plication  to  study  in  the  schools  of  the  townshi]) 
in  which  he  lived,  he  ac(]uircd  a  common  school 
education  a  little  above  the  ordinary ;  and  at  the 
early  age  of  17  years,  without  even  a  High 
school  training,  he  became  fitted  for  teaching,  in 
which  profession  he  then  engaged.  .After  three 
years  of  successful  work  in  the  school  room,  he 
yielded  to  the  attractiveness  of  agricultural  ])ur- 
suits  and  returned  to  the  farm  to  engage  in  the 
same,  and  ever  since  has  given  his  undivided  at¬ 
tention  to  the  work  of  scientific  farming  and 
stock  feeding.  It  is  a  thoroughly  established 
principle  of  Air.  Lovins.  that  the  farmer  should 
be  amongst  tbe  best  informed  men.  and  it  is  not 


245 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


simply  a  theory  with  him,  for  he  lias  put  this  be¬ 
lief  into  every  day  practiee,  kecpins^  himself  well 
informed  by  the  reading  of  hooks  and  papers  on 
agrienltnre  and  along  other  lines  of  interest,  as 
well.  As  a  natural  eonsecpienee  of  this,  coupled 
with  unremitting  toil,  he  has  one  of  the  very 
best  farms  of  the  county,  lie  is  on  the  govern¬ 
ment  mail  route,  and  receives  daily  mail  at  the 
farm. 

llelieving  in  the  well  founded  doctrine  which 
has  obtained  since  the  inception  of  mankind, 
that  "It  is  not  good  that  man  should  be  alone,” 
on  March  15,  1887,  Mr.  Lovins  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Louise  J.  Fleming,  daughter 
of  Capt.  John  A.  1*.  and  Louise  (I’etittj  Fleming. 
Mrs.  Lovins  was  born  in  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  June 
21,  1866,  but  in  infancy  was  left  alone  by  the 
death  of  her  parents.  She  was  taken  into  the 
family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W.  Dawdy,  with 
whom  she  lived  until  her  marriage.  She  received 
a  good  common  school  and  college  education, 
having  taken  a  thorough  course  in  the  Jackson¬ 
ville  h'eniale  college. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lovins  were  born  six 
beautiful  children,  the  second  of  whom,  Don, 
died  in  infancy;  the  others,  viz.;  Lena,  llenja- 
min  Wirt,  Nellie,  Winifred  and  Elizabeth,  live 
to  bless  and  make  glad  the  home  circle. 

In  young  manhood,  Mr.  Lovins  became  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Sand  Creek, 
and  has  continued  in  the  faithful  and  conscien¬ 
tious  performance  of  his  religious  duties,  each 
Lord's  Day  finding  him  at  the  place  of  worship. 
In  |)olitics  he  has  always  voted  with  the  Demo¬ 
crats  on  the  National  ticket,  but  in  local  ])oli- 
tical  af¥airs  he  is  very  liberal,  believing  in  voting 
for  the  best  man  for  the  office,  irrespective  of 
party  affiliations.  L’nlike  many  men,  he  is  in 
])olitics  from  ])rinciple  and  not  for  personal  gain, 
and  consequently  has  never  .sought,  nor  ac¬ 


cepted,  any  public  office ;  neither  has  he  any 
])olitictil  aspirations  along  that  line. 

.Mr.  Lovins  occupies  a  comfortable  home 
near  his  birthplace,  and,  with  his  wife,  enjoys  an 
enviable  reputation  amongst  their  wide  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

*  j;:  * 

(',E()R('.E  W.  1’,()L1N(;ER. 

'I'here  is  one  thing  in  the  wide  universe  that 
is  really  valuable,  and  that  is  character.  By  this 
is  meant  a  confidence  in  the  bosoms  of  those 
who  know  you,  that  you  have  the  power,  the 
capacity  and  the  disposition  to  confer  hai)piness 
upon  others.  ( )ther  things  may  be  deemed  for¬ 
tuitous  ;  they  may  come  and  go ;  but  character 
is  that  which  lives  and  abides,  and  is  admired 
long  after  its  possessor  has  left  the  earth. 

There  can  be  no  truer  illustration  of  such  a 
character,  than  that  of  Oeorge  Washington  Bol- 
inger,  of  whom  we  write  this  memorial  biogra- 
l)hy,  and  which  fully  measures  up  to  this  high 
standard.  We  write  of  a  man  well-known  in 
Shelbyville  for  a  number  of  years,  whose  charac¬ 
ter  was  unimpeachable  and  is  still  admired, 
though  "its  [)ossessor  has  left  the  earth.”  On 
the  16th  of  February,  tyoo,  occurred  the  death 
of  this  man  whose  life  had  been  an  eventful  one. 
yet  ])eaceful  and  serene  withal ;  rejilete  with 
early  struggles  and  adversities,  yet  crowned 
with  later  successes  and  victories ;  hedged  round 
about  by  almost  insurmountable  obstacles,  yet, 
by  earnest  endeavor  and  indomitable  courage, 
fraught  with  noble  achievements. 

Mr.  I’olinger  was  born  in  Sharpsburg. 
Maryland,  A.  D.  1839.  His  parents  were  John 
G.  and  Mary  I’olinger;  the  death  of  the  latter 
occurring  when  George  was  but  ten  years  of  age, 
and  this  bereavement  was  the  cause  of  sending 


246 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


him  out  into  the  world  to  do  liattle  for  himself. 
How  nobly  he  did  battle,  is  shown  by  his  later 
years.  He  had  but  a  few  years  of  common 
school  education,  yet  from  his  inherent  powers 
of  perception  and  observation,  and  his  general 
reading,  together  with  the  knowledge  which  is 
best  gained  by  practical  application  of  business 
methods,  he  became  a  well-educated  and  inform¬ 
ed  man.  At  the  tender  age  of  twelve  years,  he 
was  apprenticed  to  a  harness-maker,  for  the 
beggarly  pittance  of  twenty-five  dollars  and 
board  per  year.  He  was  compelled  to  work  at 
night  as  well  as  by  day,  in  order  to  earn  suffi¬ 
cient  money  with  which  to  purchase  suitable 
clothing.  Some  time  afterward,  he  moved  from 
Sharpsburg  to  Hagerstown,  in  the  same  state, 
and  engaged  there  in  making  saddlery  and  har¬ 
ness. 

In  Hagerstown,  Mr.  llolinger  met  Miss 
Margaret  S.  Staley,  whom  he  wedded  in  i860. 
Miss  Staley’s  i)arents  were  W  arfield  and  Mary 
Staley,  the  father  being  the  owner  and  operator 
of  an  extensive  tanyard.  Five  children  were 
born  to  bless  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ilolinger, 
all  of  whom  are  living  and  now  reside  in  the  city 
of  Shelbyvillc.  These  are  Mary  E.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  W'.  ().  W’allace,  State’s  Attorney,  George 
C.,  Charles  E.,  Jesse  W'.,  and  Frank  C.  Ifolin- 
ger,  a  biographical  sketch  of  whom  follows 
this. 

Immediately  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  Ilol- 
inger  brought  his  young  bride  to  Springfield, 
Illinois,  where  he  established  himself  in  the  har¬ 
ness  business.  After  several  years  of,  successful 
dealing  in  this  line,  he  engaged  for  two  years  in 
the  dry  goods  business,  and  then,  for  twenty 
consecutive  years,  dealt  extensively  in  stoves, 
tin  and  hardware.  In  1886,  he  removed  to  She!- 
byville,  where  he  engaged  with  F.  J.  Fraker  iii 
a  general  merchandise  store.  For  three  vears 


this  partnership  continued,  whereupon  Mr. 
ISolinger  moved  into  a  store  of  his  own,  and  was 
assisted  in  the  conduct  of  the  business  by  hree 
sons.  This  enterprise  by  his  wonderful  perspica¬ 
city  and  perseverance,  grew  to  be  the  largest 
and  most  successful  general  business  ever  con¬ 
ducted  in  the  county.  Mr.  I’olinger  knew  every 
detail  of  his  business ;  he  bought  his  own  stock  ; 
he  understood  thoroughly  the  successful  and  un¬ 
successful  i)oints  in  the  make-up  of  each  of  his 
employees.  Those  who  have  been  in  his  employ 
remember  him  kindly  for  his  word  of  apprecia¬ 
tion,  never  left  un.said  when  it  was  merited. 

( )f  Mr.  I’olinger,  it  has  been  said;  "On 
the  street,  in  his  home  or  at  his  place  of  busi¬ 
ness,  he  had  a  smile  and  a  hearty  hand-shake 
for  any  and  all — rich  or  poor,  great  or  small. 
.\nd  when  he  .sold  a  si)ool  of  thread  to  a  child, 
it  was  done  with  as  much  grace  as  though  he 
were  selling  a  fifty-dollar  dress  to  the  wife  of  a 
millionaire.  Xumerous  were  his  generous  and 
charitable  daily  deeds  which  the  world  knows 
nothing  of.  Time  and  again  men  have  gone  to 
Mr.  llolinger  and  told  him  their  families  needed 
bread,  and  he  cheerfully  loaded  a  sack  of  Hour 
u])on  the  |)ot)r  man’s  shoulder  and  put  the  price 
of  it  into  the  till  from  his  own  ])ocket.  And 
when  this  same  poor  man  came  around  again 
he  wasn’t  treated  like  a  pauper ;  but.  clasjiing  his 
hand  warmly,  this  noble-hearted  merchant  would 
look  upon  him  as  a  brother  and  consider  him  a 
man  “for  a’  that !’’  Such  is  the  reputation  of 
this  prince  among  men.  who  has  left  a  vacancy 
in  society  and  church  and  business  circles  which 
is,  indeed,  difficult  to  fill.  Mr.  Ifolinger  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  all 
of  his  life-time,  and  in  his  death,  the  First 
church  of  Shelbyville  lost  an  earnest,  faithful 
Christian  worker,  who.  with  his  youthful  spirit, 
ever  delighted  to  associate  with,  and  work 


247 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


among  and  for,  tlie  young  people,  being  diligent 
in  the  prosecution  of  any  cause  which  had  for 
its  object  the  uplifting  of  his  fellow  men. 

Mr.  llolinger  was  a  kind  and  tender  hus¬ 
band  of  tlie  loved  wife  who  survives  him,  and  an 
indulgent  father,  yet  ever  faithful  to  his  ideals 
in  the  training  of  his  children  ;  and  a  man  of 
whom  hundreds  speak  with  reverence,  and  are 
glad  to  call  him  "friend.” 

■if.  if.  "ffi 

(',K()R('.K  W.  IU)1JX(',HR’S  SON'S. 

('leorge  \\  .  I’olinger.  while  ])assing  along 
the  rugged  hill  of  life,  rememlicred  that  there 
were  children  growing  uj)  about  him  :  and  he  was 
not  so  aborbcd  in  the  cares  and  pursuits  of  his 
generation  that  he  forgot  the  next.  So  he  took 
great  care  in  rearing  the  sui)erstructure  of  his 
character,  that  its  influence  might  rest  u])on  his 
four  manly  sons,  inspiring  them  to  diligence  and 
activity  in  business,  inculcating  in  them  the  ])rin- 
ci])les  of  a  righteous  life. 

The  sons  of  George  \V.  and  Margaret  S. 
Holinger  are  (George  C.,  born  in  1863;  Charles 
E.,  in  1871  ;  Jesse  \V.,  in  1873,  Frank  C., 
in  1883.  The  boys  were  all  born  in  Springfield. 
Illinois,  where  the  jiarents  lived  for  more  than 
a  score  of  years.  'I'heir  education  in  the  com¬ 
mon  branches,  was  received  in  the  schools-  of 
Springfield  and  Shelbyville,  while  they  have  each 
taken  a  course  in  Business  college,  to  give  them 
a  thorough  business  training,  and  qualify  them 
to  intelligentlv  and  successfullv  carrv  on  the 
magnificent  mercantile  business  established  by 
the  father.  .\s  they  grew  old  enough,  each,  in 
succession,  engaged  in  business  with  his  father, 
and  the  practical  training  which  they  received 
from  seeing  his  business  ideas  and  methods  put 
into  use,  and  worked  out  to  a  favorable  issue. 


has  been  of  no  inconsiderable  value  to  them  in 
their  conduct  of  the  l)usiness  since  his  death. 
They  own,  and  conduct  a  thriving  trade  in,  four 
big  stores;  one  Clothing,  one  Dry  (ioods,  one 
Carpets,  Cloaks  and  Ladies’  Suits,  and  one 
(irocery;  making  in  all  one  large  Department 
store,  in  an  excellent  location  on  Main  street, 
of  Shelbyville.  Jesse  \\’.  is  manager  and  does 
the  buying  for  the  clothing  dei)artment ;  Charles 
I'l  sustains  a  like  relation  to  the  dry  goods,  car¬ 
pets  and  shoe  dei)artmcnt ;  while  I'rank  C.,  with 
an  assistant,  conducts  the  grocery,  (jcorge  C. 
is  the  genial,  general  manager  and  cai)able  finan¬ 
cier  of  the  entire  enterprise. 

It  is  a  pleasurable  experience  to  meet  and 
talk  with  any  of  these  young  men,  and  note  the 
culture  and  refinement,  and  inherent  sterling 
(jualities  which  come  alone  from  early  parental 
training  in  a  Christian  home.  All  of  the  boys 
are  connected  with  the  church,  as  members  of 
excellent  repute  and  extensive  intluencc. 
Charles  belongs  to  the  Baptist  denomination, 
while  the  others  are  affiliated  with  the  First  M. 
IC.  church. 

George  and  Charles  are  both  married,  oc¬ 
cupying  comfortable  homes  in  the  city.  To  Mr. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  B>olinger  has  been  born 
one  child.  Jesse  and  Frank  still  reside  under 
the  parental  roof,  and  are  the  companions  of 
their  mother’s  widowhood. 

The  business,  in  which  (leorge  W.  Bolin- 
ger’s  Sons  are  engaged,  considering  these  times 
of  close  competition,  has  been  wonderfully  suc¬ 
cessful.  It  is  (piite  probable,  however,  it  has  not 
made  the  money  piled  up  by  old  line  men,  hav¬ 
ing  for  its  motto,  “Big  Sales  and  Small  Profits;” 
still,  selling  for  cash,  its  sales  have  reached 
amounts  never  before  equalled  by  any  firm  in 
Shelbyville.  The  widely  known  and  approved 
business  methods  of  these  men,  draw  trade  to 


248 


‘.KOKGK  1’.  COOK.  .^NDKEW  Hl'DSON. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


their  store  from  many  miles  around,  and  in  this 
way  otlier  merchants  of  the  city  are  profited. 
Everything  purchased  by  them  is  paid  in  spot 
casli,  thus  securing  goods  at  rock-bottom  prices, 
which  enables  them  to  compete  with  any  store  in 
the  county.  Those  who  deal  at  their  stores,  are 
sure  of  receiving  good  goods,  and  at  the  lowest 
market  prices. 

The  bovs  have  enhanced  each  others  social, 
domestic  and  commercial  welfare,  by  remain¬ 
ing  together,  believing  that  "In  union  there  is 
strength." 

The  outlook  for  future  prosperity  for  these 
young  men.  is  bright,  and  we  prophesy  for  them 
a  continuance  of  the  esteem  and  confidence  in 
which  they  are  now  held  by  their  host  of  friends 
and  customers. 

*  *  *  * 

GEORGE  r.  COOK'. 

Since  the  spring  of  1865.  George  1’.  Cook, 
proprietor  of  the  New  Xeal  and  subject  of  this 
review,  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  in¬ 
terests  of  Shelbyville.  He  was  born  in  Eunks- 
town  in  the  county  of  W  ashington.  Maryland, 
on  the  18th  day  of  January.  1830.  He  was  the 
son  of  John  Cook,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
who  moved  to  Funkstown  about  1823.  and  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  at  which  he  labored  until 
his  death  in  1857.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
mother  was  Hannah  Huffman,  whom  death  re¬ 
moved  when  George  was  but  seventeen  years  of 
age. 

Mr.  Cook  has  a  very  vivid  recollection  of  a 
great  cholera  epidemic  which  swept  through  his 
native  town  when  he  was  but  three  years  old. 
A  large  number  of  the  brightest  and  best  fell 
under  the  cruel  hand  of  the  destroyer,  many 
dying  even  ui^on  the  streets.  He  also  remembers 


with  great  distinctness  the  destroying  by  fire  of 
a  large  factory  in  this  same  year,  the  burning 
of  which  he  watched  from  the  window  of  his 
home,  and  which  made  a  deep  impression  on 
his  childish  mind.  He  was  a  boy  in  the  very 
fullest  sense  of  that  term,  and  so  entered  without 
reserve  into  the  sports,  the  amusements  and  mis¬ 
chiefs  of  "boydom."  As  has  been  the  case  with 
other  boys,  so  it  was  with  him.  that  his  mischiev¬ 
ous  propensities  often  interfered  with  proper 
study  and  preparation  of  school  lessons ;  and 
though  many  years  have  passed,  Mr.  Cook  re¬ 
members  very  well  the  condign  iiunishments  in¬ 
flicted  by  the  Master  because  of  these  short¬ 
comings  and  the  mischievous  pranks.  As  is  well 
known,  there  were  no  free  schools  nor  educa¬ 
tional  priHleges  in  the  days  when  i\lr.  Cook  was 
a  boy,  but  each  pupil  had  to  pay  to  the  teacher 
a  certain  sum  each  week  ;  and  it  was  during  the 
last  few  months  of  his  school  days,  when  obliged 
to  earn  and  pay  his  own  tuition  fee,  that  lie  re¬ 
ceived  the  greater  part  of  his  book-learning. 

It  is  said  that  for  every  person  there  is  a 
trio  of  events— birth,  marriage,  death — and 
that  around  these  hover  all  the  other  incidents 
of  one's  life.  W  hen  the  century  was  half  gone, 
there  came  to  Mr.  Cook  the  second  of  these,  and 
on  the  2nd  of  October.  1850,  he  led  to  the  altar 
]\liss  Mary  M.  Carson,  daughter  of  George  and 
r^latilda  Carson,  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  ( )f 
very  few  who  were  married  in  the  year  in  which 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  were,  can  it  be  said  that 
they  lived  together  until  the  close  of  the  cen¬ 
tury.  But  so  it  is  with  this  couple,  for  on  ( )cto- 
ber  2nd,  1900.  they  reached  the  fiftieth  milestone 
of  wedded  life  and  celebrated  their  golden  wed¬ 
ding.  It  was  one  of  the  most  pleasing  social 
events  which  Shelbvville  society  has  participated 
in  for  many  a  day.  Three  hundred  invitations 
had  been  sent  out  to  relatives  and  friends  and 


249 


D/OGRAPH/ES. 


most  of  these  responded,  so  that  the  Xeal  House, 
beautifully  yet  tastefully  decorated,  fairly  teemed 
with  hapi)y  mirth  and  genial  company,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cook,  though  with  silvered  hair,  still 
looked  the  blushing  bride  and  bridegroom  of 
fifty  years  ago  as  they  received  the  hearty  words 
of  esteem  and  congratulations  of  the  guests, 
many  of  whom  had  known  them  for  several  de¬ 
cades  and  who  wish  for  them  still  many  years 
of  conjugal  felicity. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  to  bless  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook,  only  three  of  whom 
are  living.  Three  of  the  four  deceased  ones  were 
given  to  earth  but  a  little  while — just  long 
enough  to  have  entwined  about  their  infant 
lives  the  heartstrings  of  the  parents,  which  were 
soon  ruthlessly  sundered.  The  memorial  biogra¬ 
phy  of  the  other,  Edith,  follows  this  one. 

( )f  the  living,  Lillie  A.  was  born  near 
Kunkstown,  in  1854.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
she  was  married  to  Josei)h  Murphy  They  now 
reside  at  Philadelphia,  where  Mr.  Murphy  is  en¬ 
gaged  in  photography.  Nettie  C.  Cook  was 
born  while  her  parents  lived  in  Kunkstown,  in 
1856.  She,  also,  was  married  the  year  she  reach¬ 
ed  her  majority,  to  Col.  E.  E.  South,  who  is 
general  agent  of  the  P)ig  Four  Route  at  Terre 
Haute,  where  they  live.  Ellsworth,  the  only 
living  son,  was  born  in  1862.  His  name  is  well 
known,  he  being  possessed  of  a  voice  of  rare 
sweetness  and  i)ower,  and  having  traveled 
through  many  states  as  a  member  of  a  noted 
minstrel  trouj^e.  He  is  now  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  hotel  business  as  the  genial  and 
popular  manager  of  the  New  Xeal. 

Mr.  Cook's  first  removal  from  Funkstown 
was  in  1851,  to  the  country  near  the  village. 


where  he  remained  four  years,  then  returning  to 
town  where  he  engaged  in  the  shoe-making  busi¬ 
ness  until  1862.  For  the  two  succeeding  years, 
he  "kept  tavern"  in  Funkstown,  where  he  pro¬ 
vided  food  for  man  and  fodder  for  beast.  His 
next  removal  was  to  lloonesborough,  Md.,  in 
1864,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  in  a  res¬ 
taurant  and  saloon,  which  he  continued  until 
January,  1865.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  Mr. 
Cook  moved  his  family  to  Shelbyville,  and  was 
employed  for  a  year  as  book-keei)er  and  sales¬ 
man  by  his  brother  and  W  illiam  Thornton,  who 
then  conducted  an  extensive  lumber  business  on 
the  site  upon  which  the  Xeal  House  now  stands. 
In  1866,  Mr.  Thornton  dropped  out  of  the  firm 
and  his  interests  were  taken  by  Mr.  Cook.  This 
l)artner^hip  existed  for  eight  years,  when  he  be¬ 
gan  speculating  in  eggs  and  shipping  them  to 
the  city,  which  he  continued  for  four  years.  In 
the  summer  of  1878,  he  began  keeping  hotel  in 
the  building  sometimes  called  the  Old  Xeal,  but 
then  known  as  the  Ellington  House.  In  the 
fall  of  1884.  he  sold  out  his  hotel  interests,  and 
in  the  following  si)ring  bought  and  moved  onto 
a  farm  three-fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  Shelby¬ 
ville,  which  he  still  owns  and  to  which  he  added 
eighty  acres  in  the  fall  of  1899. 

In  May  of  1890.  he  returned  to  town  and 
again  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  i)urchas- 
ing  the  Xeal  House  which  he  still  owns. 

Like  many  another  of  the  "fathers,”  Mr. 
Cook  passed  through  a  good  many  struggles 
and  reverses  in  the  early  days ;  but  with  indomi¬ 
table  will  and  courage  he  has  met  and  sur¬ 
mounted  the  obstacles,  won  a  comfortable  com¬ 
petency  for  himself  and  family,  and  is  still  hale 
and  hearty,  giving  credence  to  the  expression 
that  ”man  is  not  old  at  seventy.” 


250 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


MEMORIAL— EDITH-  COOK. 

"She  is  not  dead — the  child  of  our  affection — 
But  gone  unto  that  school 
W  here  she  no  longer  needs  our  poor  protection. 
And  Christ  himself  doth  rule. 

"In  that  great  cloister's  stillness  and  seclusion. 

By  guardian  angles  led. 

Safe  from  temptation,  safe  from  sin's  pollution. 
She  lives,  whom  we  call  dead. 

"Day  after  day,  we  think  what  she  is  doing 
In  those  bright  realms  of  air; 

Year  after  year,  her  tender  steps  pursuing. 
Behold  her  grown  more  fair. 

"Thus  do  we  walk  with  her.  and  keep  unbroken 
The  bond  which  nature  gives. 

Thinking  that  our  remembrance,  though  un¬ 
spoken. 

May  reach  her  where  she  lives.” 

— Longfellow. 

It  is  not  a  pleasure  to  write  a  memorial 
biography,  but  it  becomes  more  nearly  so  when 
we  are  permitted  to  write  about  a  person  of  such 
rare  graces  and  beautiful  character  as  were  pos¬ 
sessed  by  Miss  Edith  Cook,  the  subject  of  this 
memoir. 

Miss  Cook  was  the  youngest  daughter  of 
George  P.  and  Mary  Cook,  being  born  in  Shel¬ 
by  ville  in  September,  1867.  Her  life  was  almost 
exclusively  passed  in  her  birthplace,  where  she 
was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her  as  a  happy- 
hearted,  sweet-voiced  girl.  Her  childhood  and 
youth  were  characterized  by  a  cheerful,  sunny 
disposition,  which  won  for  Miss  Edith  a  warm 
place  in  the  hearts  of  her  school-mates,  teachers 
and  friends.  .As  she  grew  into  womanhood,  she 
developed  a  most  pure  and  noble  character.  The 
promises  of  the  maiden  were  fulfilled  in  the 
woman  ;  and  a  bright  though  veiled  future  lax- 
before  her,  when 


Like  a  swift  fleeting  meteor,  a  flast  flying  cloud. 

•A  flash  of  the  lightning,  a  break  of  the  wave. 
She  passed  from  this  life  to  her  rest  in  the  grave. 

At  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of 
the  5th  of  -August,  1897.  Cook  ordered  out 
her  conveyance  for  a  drive  about  the  citv.  She 
was  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Lantz.  a  particular 
friend.  After  a  ride  of  half  an  hour,  or  such  a 
matter,  the  two  returned  and  Mrs.  Lantz  alighted 
at  her  home.  As  Miss  Edith  turned  to  drive 
home,  in  some  manner  the  horse,  being  a  spirited 
one,  was  frightened  and  almost  immediately  be¬ 
came  unmanageable.  With  frightful  ra])idity  it 
ran  in  a  homeward  direction,  and,  at  the  inter¬ 
section  of  South  First  and  Washington  streets, 
made  a  cjuick  turn.  Within  a  few  feet  of  her 
own  home.  Miss  Cook  was  thrown  from  the  ve¬ 
hicle  with  terrible  violence,  her  head  striking  the 
embankment  of  the  street  with  crushing  force. 
Tender  hands  (luickly  lifted  the  bruised  and 
bleeding  form  and  gently  carried  it  to  a  room 
in  the  hotel.  The  skull  was  fractured,  the  right 
arm  dislocated  and  the  whole  side  was  bruised 
and  mangled.  Every  effort  of  the  attending  phy¬ 
sicians  to  save  the  precious  life  was  fruitless. 
Consciousness  had  taken  its  flight,  nor  did  it  re¬ 
turn  until  the  dejiarture  of  the  spirit  at  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  evening.  .A  beautiful  life  had  gone 
out — a  soul  had  returned  to  God. 

On  the  following  Sabbath,  the  funeral  ser¬ 
vices,  which  were  of  a  peculiarly  pathetic  charac¬ 
ter,  in  that  the  whole  city  mourned  for  her  who 
had  been  loved  by  the  young  and  the  old  alike, 
were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  all 
that  was  mortal  of  Miss  Cook  was  tenderly  laid 
away  in  the  "silent  city  of  the  dead.*'  Concern¬ 
ing  these  services,  we  quote  from  a  newspaper 
clipping  published  the  following  day :  “.As  the 
funeral  i)arty  entered  the  church,  where  the  de- 


2  s  I 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


ceased  was  wont  to  attend,  the  organ  gave  forth 
a  solemn,  moiirnul  requiem,  tlie  casket  was 
placed  in  a  veritable  bower  of  flowers  and  the 
(juartet  sang  “Beyond  the  smiling  and  the  weep¬ 
ing.”  Following  the  reading  of  the  scripture  and 
a  prayer.  Miss  Maude  Trower  sang  "One  sweet¬ 
ly  solemn  thought,”  a  mournful  monody  that 
brought  tears  to  all  eyes.  It  rended  the  heart, 
and  we  (juestion  if  ever  an  audience  more  truly 
felt  the  truth  of  the  closing  lines;  ‘For  I  am 
nearer  home  today,  perhajis  than  now  I  think.’  ” 
This  glowing  tribute  was  paid  to  the  mem¬ 
ory  of  Miss  Edith  by  one  who  knew  her  well: 
"She  was  a  ray  of  sunshine,  always  happy,  bright 
and  cheerful,  and  her  sweet  winsomeness  and 
her  joyous,  tender,  happy  heart  charmed  all  with 
whom  she  came  in  contact  and  cheered  and 
brightened  many  a  saddened  and  clouded  life. 
Bright  and  witty,  an  excellent  conversationalist 
and  with  a  keen  sense  of  humor  she  was  the  life 
of  every  gathering  she  graced  with  her  presence. 
She  was  a  friend  of  all :  even  the  little  lads  of  the 
street  received  her  kindly  smile.  Beautiful  of 
face  and  character  in  the  life  with  us — thrice 
more  beautiful  in  the  life  beyond.” 

But  all  our  polished  words  and  well-wrought 
sentences  fail  in  faithfully  portraying  her  lovely 
character.  W'e  mourn  for  her  who  is  gone,  but 
like  balm  to  our  wounded  spirit  come  these  com¬ 
forting  lines : 

"Let  us  be  patient!  These  severe  afiflictions 
Not  from  the  ground  arise. 

But  oftentimes  celestial  benedictions 
.Assume  this  dark  disguise. 

"We  see  but  dimly  through  the  mists  and 
vapors ; 

-Amid  these  earthly  damps. 

What  seems  to  us  but  sad,  funereal  tapers 
May  be  heaven’s  distant  lamps. 


“There  is  no  death  !  What  seems  so  is  trans¬ 
ition  ; 

'I'his  life  of  mortal  breath 

Is  but  a  suburb  of  the  life  elysian, 

Whose  portal  we  call  death.” 

*  *  *  5i< 

ROBERT  REE\'E. 

The  best  of  all  that  we  call  .American  is  of 
English  birth  or  extraction.  From  the  English 
we  inherit  our  best  blood,  our  noblest  i)atriot- 
ism,  our  most  splendid  genius.  The  gentleman 
concerning  whom  we  write  this  biograi)hy  was 
brought  by  his  widowed  mother  to  Alontreal, 
Canada,  when  he  was  scarcely  si.x  months  of  age. 
He  was  born  near  the  city  of  Norwich,  ILig.,  in 
.A.  1).  1834.  The  names  of  his  parents  were 
Benjamin  and  Hannah  (Sherman)  Reeve.  After 
a  short  stay  in  Canada,  Mrs.  Reeve  removed  to 
Buffalo,  New  AMrk,  and  in  this  city  Robert  spent 
his  boyhood  days.  He  worked  at  various  odd 
jobs,  in  order  to  somewhat  helj)  in  bearing  the 
expense  of  his  sup])ort,  and  received  his  only 
educational  training  in  the  city  last  named,  be¬ 
fore  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  At  this  time 
in  his  life  he  began  railroading,  carrying  water 
for  a  grayel  train  crew,  on  the  Northwestern 
road.  He  gradually  won  the  confidence  of  his 
superiors  until  he  finally  became  a  fireman  and 
then  an  engineer.  He  made  a  phenomenal 
record  on  the  Big  Four  line ;  on  this  road  he 
fired  a  locomotive  for  seven  years  without  losing 
a  single  day.  He  afterwards  ran  the  engine 
which  hauled  the  dirt  for  filling  in  the  hollow, 
east  of  where  the  Shelbyville  depot  now  stands, 
and  which  was  previously  spanned  by  a  huge 
trestle-work. 

In  the  year  1864,  he  began  work  for  S.  H. 
W'ebster  &  Co.,  and  assisted  them  in  the  grain 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


l)usiness.  He  continued  with  tliis  firm  till  the 
year  1880.  These  long  periods  of  service  on  the 
part  of  our  subject  are  in  striking  contrast  to  the 
frequent  changes  made  by  many  employes,  and 
speaks  well  for  his  enterprise  and  faithfulness. 
Before  quitting  the  employ  of  Mr.  W  ebster,  he 
erected  the  scales  and  stock  yards,  which  are  his 
present  place  of  business.  To  give  some  idea  of 
the  volume  of  business  transacted  at  these  yards, 
we  quote  the  following  figures.  In  the  year  lyoo, 
Mr.  Reeve  handled  158  car-loads  of  hogs  for 
iMr.  John  Freyhurger;  the  number  of  head  being 
111,083,  their  aggregate  weight  2.329,927 
pounds.  He  also  shipped  : 

Horses — 67  cars — 1370  head. 

Cattle — 7  cars — 144  head. 

Sheep — 3  cars — 419  head. 

This  makes  a  grand  total  of  279  car-loads 
and  113,016  animals.  W'hen  we  consider  this 
vast  amount  of  business  we  can  see  the  place  of 
responsibility  and  trust  which  Mr.  Reeve  oc¬ 
cupies. 

In  i860,  Mr.  Reeve  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Nancy  Davis,  a  native  of  Ohio.  To  them 
have  been  born  eight  children,  three  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  -  The  names  of  the  five  living 
ones  we  subjoin  in  the  order  of  their  birth  : 
^lartha,  John,  Sarah,  Thomas,  Robert?  Thomas 
is  engaged  with  his  father  in  conducting  the 
stock-yards.  Mr.  Reeve  is  an  ardent  Rejmhli- 
can  in  politics ;  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abra¬ 
ham  Lincoln  when  he  was  first  a  candidate  for 
the  presidency. 

In  business  our  subject  is  prompt  and  active. 
His  success  is  many  ways  is  notable.  W'hat  he 
is  and  has  is  largely  the  result  of  his  own  effort. 
He  has  the  reputation  of  being  straight-forward 
and  honest.  His  word  is  never  discounted  and 
he  is  respected  by  all.  Roth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reeve 
are  members  of  the  Moulton  M.  E.  church. 


COLONEL  H.  M.  SCARROROLGH. 

He  of  whom  we  write  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Hunterdon  county.  New  Jersey.  Sept.  4th, 
1834.  He  is  the  second  child  of  Isaac  and  Eliza 
(Case)  Scarborough,  and  is  of  Scotch  descent: 
these  parents  were  devout  members  of  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  church.  Hiram  spent  his  boyhood  days 
u])Gn  his  father's  farm,  and  there  laid  the  foun¬ 
dations  for  a  life  of  labor  and  success.  His  edu¬ 
cational  ])rivileges  were  limited  to  those  of  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  county. 

.\t  the  age  of  seventeen  he  learned  the  car- 
lienter’s  trade,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  in 
June,  1856.  he  came  to  this  city  and  continued 
working  at  his  trade  until  he  began  clerking  in 
the  dry  goods  store  of  J.  R.  X'osburgh. 

Mr.  Scarborough  is  of  a  patriotic  temper¬ 
ament.  and  his  country's  call  for  men  was  re¬ 
sponded  to  by  his  volunteering  for  service  in  the 
54th  Illinois.  November,  1861.  He  saw  much 
active  service  :  ])articipating  in  the  siege  of  \’icks- 
burg,  capture  of  Little  Rock.  Ark.,  and  numerous 
skirmishes,  etc. 

His  success  as  a  soldier  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  he  held  five  commissions; 
Second  Lieutenant,  h'irst  Lieutenant.  Captain. 
Major  and  Lieutenant  Colonel.  He  distinguish¬ 
ed  himself  in  each  of  these  positions  as  is  evi¬ 
denced  bv  the  fact  of  his  continued  promotions. 
He  was  not  mustered  out  of  service  until  Nov.. 
1865.  We  account  it  an  honor  to  be  accpiainted 
with  a  man  who  saw  four  years  of  active  cam¬ 
paign  in  the  Civil  war. 

In  Jan.,  1866,  Mr.  Scarborough  again  took 
up  the  duties^  of  private  citizenshi]).  and  purchas¬ 
ed  a  stock  of  dry  goods  in  the  room  which  he 
now  occui)ies.  The  practical  training  of  the  farm 
and  carpenter's  bench,  together  with  the  exact¬ 
ness  and  discipline  of  military  service  have  made 


B/OGRAPHIES. 


him  eminently  snceessfnl  in  the  mercantile  line. 
It  ha.s  heen  said  in  onr  hearing  that  at  an  earlier 
date,  when  Mr.  Searhorongh  gave  more  of  his 
])ersonal  attention  to  his  store  than  he  has  done 
in  these  more  recent  years  of  hnsiness  calls  and 
cares,  that  he  conld  have  entered  his  store  in  the 
blackest  midnight,  and  i)nt  his  hand  upon  any 
desired  article  or  ])iece  of  goods.  His  hnsiness 
has  heen  increased  until  it  embraces  a  large  and 
well  selected  stock  (jf  general  merchandise. 

(  )n  the  I2th  day  of  Sei)temher.  1871.  Mr. 
Hiram  Scarborough  and  Miss  Isabel  Middles- 
worth  were  united  in  marriage.  The  name  “Mid- 
dlesworth"  is  too  well  known  to  all  ])ersons  in 
Shelbv  county  to  need  any  comment.  The  bride 
is  the  daughter  of  Abram,  who  is  president  of 
the  First  Xational  hrnk.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Scarborough  have  heen  horn  four  children. 
Three  of  these  only  lived  a  short  time.  ])assing 
to  the  ni)])er  home  when  childhood's  morning 
was  hardly  begun.  Charles,  a  bright  and  highly 
esteemed  young  man  was  horn  in  this  city  June, 
lyth.  1877.  He  was  graduated  from  the  High 
school  here,  and  s])ent  one  year  in  Hanover  col¬ 
lege :  hut  at  the  end  of  this  time,  to  the  disap- 
])ointment  of  his  friends  no  less  than  himself,  he 
was  obliged  through  ill-health,  to  abandon  his 
course,  and  is  now  seeking  strength  in  the  moun¬ 
tains  of  New  Mexico. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Scarborough 
united  with  the  llajitist  church,  but  on  coming 
here,  he  found  no  chnrch  of  that  denomination, 
and,  not  being  so  great  a  sectarian  that  he  could 
not  worship  with  other  believers,  he  affiliated 
himself  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  It  is  not 
saying  too  much  to  state  that  he  and  his  estim¬ 
able  wife  are  regarded  as  pillars  in  the  church 
of  our  Lord  Jesus. 

In  financial  circles  our  subject  has  held  such 
positions  of  responsibility  and  trust  as  the  vice- 


jiresidency  of  the  P'irst  Xational  hank  and  the 
Citizens'  Loan  association.  In  politics  he  is  a 
staunch  republican.  He  hears  the  reputation  of 
being  a  pnhlic-s])irited,  honest,  respected  citizen. 
He  is  known  by  all,  and  each  day  greets  scores 
of  friends  from  his  jilace  of  business,  where  he  has 
heen  actively  engaged  for  more  than  thirty-five 
years. 

45  *  *  * 

LILLY  A X U  H L X SC( ) M 1  . 

The  young  gentlemen  whose  names  head 
this  biographical  survey  are  the  projirietors  of 
the  Windsor  Cazette.  The  jiaper  in  (jnestion  is 
a  s])icy.  neat  sheet,  which  weekly  visits  between 
eight  and  nine  hundreil  of  Shelby's  homes.  This 
])a]ier  which  was  established  in  1878  is  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Hugh  S.  Lilly,  son  of  Europe  and 
Xancy  (Wright)  Lilly,  natives  of  Kentucky,  was 
born  in  Sullivan,  Illinois,  August  9th,  1866. 
Hugh's  mother  was  the  daughter  of  a  captain  in 
the  Civil  war  and  the  granddaughter  of  a  Revolu¬ 
tionary  patriot. 

Hugh  was  reared  to  the  duties  of  a  clerk  in 
a  hook  store,  which  was  managed  by  his  father, 
and  early  accpiired  a  taste  for  literature.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  Sullivan  High  school  in  1883. 
In  the  Slimmer  of  1886  he  began  learning  the 
printer's  trade,  working  on  the  Sullivan  Prog¬ 
ress.  Prior  to  this  time  he  had  frecpiently  con¬ 
tributed  articles  to  the  local  papers.  For  one 
year,  under  Cleveland's  administration,  he  served 
as  deputy  postmaster  in  his  native  town,  after 
which  he  accepted  a  lucrative  position  as  book¬ 
keeper.  His  love  for  (irinting  was  deeiily  seated 
in  his  nature;  and  in  Jan.,  1891,  he  became  the 
associate  editor  of  the  Sullivan  Xews.  In  the 
winter  of  1893  he  was  clerk  of  committees  in 


254 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


state  senate,  and  in  the  following  sninmer  was 
city  reporter  and  labor  editor  of  the  St.  Louis 
Daily  Star-Savings;  he  was  agent  when  in  St. 
Louis  for  several  trade  journals.  In  1894  he 
formed  the  partnership  with  Mr.  Dunsconib 
which  resulted  in  the  purchase  of  the  pai)er  afore¬ 
named. 

Mr.  Lilly  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mabel,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarei)ta  (W  alden) 
Smysor  of  Windsor.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  boys  who  are  the  pride  of  their  home. 

Mr.  Lilly  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  .\.  M. 
lodge,  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  the  Modern  \\  ood- 
men,  and  of  the  Modern  Americans.  He  holds 
the  position  of  president  in  the  last  named  order, 
and  is  junior  warden  of  the  Royal  .\rch  Masons 
at  Sullivan.  He  is  also  devoted  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  and 
in  this  organization  has  done  good  work  as  Sun¬ 
day  school  superintendent,  president  of  Epworth 
League,  and  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  Mr. 
Lilly  is  a  voung  man  whose  other  e.xcellencies 
are  crowned  with  a  deej)  devotion  to  his  home. 


Like  his  partner  in  business  Mr.  Dunsconib 
is  a  native  of  Moultrie  county.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  H.  and  Jane  (Mitchell)  Dunsconib,  and  was 
born  in  A.  D.  1869.  His  father  was  the  editor  of 
the  Moultrie  County  News,  and  hence  (leorge 
spent  many  of  his  leisure  boyhood  hours  in  and 
about  his  father’s  office.  He  received  his  educa¬ 
tional  training  m  the  High  school  at  home,  and 
in  his  father's  printing  establishment  learned  the 
art  of  practical  printing.  ( )n  the  1 5th  day  of 
May,  1895,  he  was  married  to  iMiss  Rosa  Laker, 
of  Sullivan.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  chil¬ 
dren  ;  Joseph  H.  and  George  Laker.  IMr.  Duns¬ 
conib  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  and  the 
Modern  W’oodnien  lodges. 


W  e  can  state  of  these  two  young  men  ;  Thev 
are  enter])rising.  interested  in  all  that  is  good, 
courteous,  and  representative  citizens.  Their 
jiaper  is  non-jiartisan  in  politics,  and  is  recog¬ 
nized  as  one  of  the  leading  sheets  in  the  countv. 
W’e  jiredict  for  these  young  gentlemen  a  success¬ 
ful  and  increasingly  bright  future,  and  can  only 
regret  that  there  are  not  more  young  men  who 
are  worthy  of  ecpially  honorable  mention. 

*  *  *  * 

Xt  ).\H  A.  TRIECE. 

( )n  the  28th  of  March,  1865.  the  home  of 
Isaac  and  Katharine  (Huffer)  Triece  was  glad¬ 
dened  by  the  birth  of  the  son  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  The  home  thus  gladdened  was 
ipiickly  turned  to  one  of  mourning,  for  the 
mother  died  when  her  babe  was  but  one  week 
old.  How  greatly  the  life  of  the  child  has  been 
affected  by  the  loss  of  his  mother  is  wholly  in¬ 
calculable  ;  there  is  but  (  )ne  who  knows. 

Xoah  was  kindly  reared  by  his  aunt,  Mrs.  A. 
1  )annenbarger.  of  this  city.  .Vt  the  age  of  si.x- 
teen  he  began  an  apprenticeship  with  Mr.  L.  L. 
Hearing:  prior  to  which,  he  had  the  educational 
advantages  afforded  by  the  city  schools.  W  hen 
his  majority  was  reached  he  was  the  master  of 
a  common  school  education  and  a  good  trade ; 
a  better  record  than  i^  made  by  many  who  have 
care  of  parents,  and  are  the  pampered  and  jietted 
children  of  wealth. 

September  8th.  1886,  Mr.  Triece  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of  J.  H.  and 
Eliza  Hite,  of  Shelbyville.  They  are  the  i)arents 
of  three  children  :  Grace,  Harry  and  a  little  one 
who  died  in  infancy. 

On  the  first  day  of  Jan.,  1898.  Mr.  Triece 
severed  his  business  relations  with  Mr.  Hearing, 
for  whom  he  had  worked  so  long,  and  launched 


255 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


in  a  niercliant  tailoring  l)usiness  for  liiniself.  His 
venture  is  provinj^  to  he  an  inereasing  success. 
He  is  establishing  a  rei)utation  for  good  work 
and  honest  dealing  which  is  certain  to  fructify  in 
material  gain.  The  writer  speaks  of  courteous, 
prompt,  and  Christian  treatment  as  his  own  ex- 
])erience  in  dealing  with  this  young  man. 

J>oth  .Mr.  Triece  and  his  wife  are  memhers 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  are  faithful  and  <le- 
voted  to  their  religious  duties ;  he  is  also  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  order  of  the  K.  1*.  The  parents  of  Mr. 
Triece  were  natives  of  ( )hio,  hut  he  is  a  son  of 
Shelby  county ;  he  was  horn  and  has  ever  lived 
within  its  hounds.  W'e  i)rophesy  that  those  traits 
of  character  which  have  been  the  source  of  his 
success  thus  far,  will  eventually  ripen  into  broad¬ 
er  influence  and  greater  achievements. 

*  *  * 

JOEL  L.  Hl’DSOX  .\X1)  SOX,  .\X1)RE\V  1. 

The  ])arents  of  Mr.  ].  L.  Hudson.  David 
and  Sarah  (Dotson),  were  natives  of  Xorth  Caro¬ 
lina,  and  came  to  this  county  on  Xew  Year’s  day, 
1830.  .At  this  time  Joel  was  three  years  of  age. 
'I'he  journey  was  made  by  team,  and  the  trip  oc¬ 
cupied  a  period  of  forty  days.  Like  many 
another  hoy  of  that  early  day,  he  received  hut 
little  training  save  in  the  school  of  life  on  the 
farm  at  home.  , 

In  the  year,  1848,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Priscilla  Dotson,  and  began  farming 
upon  land  in  Section  14,  Shelby ville  township. 
He  suffered  the  loss  of  his  girl-wife  inside  two 
years  from  the  time  of  his  marriage.  He  has 
since  been  twice  married,  viz;  to  Clarissa  J.  \  al- 
entine  and  Emma  J.  Lowry,  respectively.  He 
is  the  father  of  nineteen  children.  For  a  period 
of  twentv-five  years  he  lived  upon  a  farm  in  Sec¬ 
tion  12,  of  the  township  before  named,  and  which 


farm  he  still  owns.  He  has  imiiroved  seven 
farms  in  the  immediate  vicinity  where  he  now 
resides,  and,  before  dividing  among  his  children 
did  own  four  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good 
land.  In  early  life  he  became  identified  with  the 
Sei)arate  l>a])tist  church,  and  to  this  day  is  a 
devout  believer  in  the  Xazarene.  His  politics 
have  ever  been  of  the  democratic  i)ersuasion.  His 
life  has  been  a  success,  and  now  in  the  failing 
strength  of  his  declining  years  he  holds  the  re- 
s])ect  of  those  who  have  known  him. 

.Andrew  I.  was  horn  ( )ctoher  27th,  1855; 
liis  mother  being  the  second  wife  of  his  father, 
lie  was  reared  as  a  farm-lad,  and  like  his  father 
had  hut  little  chance  for  school-training.  In  the 
year  1877  he  became  the  husband  of  Miss  \'ir- 
ginia  Wilhelm  of  his  native  township.  They  are 
the  parents  of  eight  children, all  of  whom  are  liv- 
in<r.  In  addition  to  his  farm  business,  Mr.  Hud- 
son  has  been  connected  with  a  grain  and  mer¬ 
chandise  business  at  Middlesworth,  and  has  also 
done  a  large  amount  of  threshing.  He  has  been 
honored  bv  being  chosen,  for  eight  consecutive 
vears.  supervi.sor  of  his  townsbij),  and  during  the 
jjresent  term  is  chairman  of  the  board.  Mr. 
Hudson  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  man  with 
goo<l  common  sense;  he  is  an  excellent  judge  of 
stock,  and  has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  grain  of 
all  kinds.  As  a  business  man  he  is  a  success,  and 
he  bears  a  name  which  in  all  the  county  is  the 
synonym  of  reliability  and  honesty.  lie  is  a 
member  of  the  1.  ().  ().  F.  and  like  his  father  has 
been  a  life-long  democrat. 

*  *  *  * 

WILLIAM  ().  WALLACE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  son  of  Shelby 
countv,  being  born  here  in  the  year  1856.  His 
father.  John  H.  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 


256 


I)K.  'I  HOMAS  L.  CA  rilKKWOOI). 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


his  motlicr.  Martha  (Clark),  was  indigenous  of 
Illinois.  Mr.  W  allace  spent  his  boyhood  and 
vouth  upon  the  farm,  and  there  became  familiar 
with  those  trials  of  labor  and  frugality  which 
have  won  for  him  success  in  these  more  recent 
years.  From  the  common  schools  at  home,  he 
went  to  the  Lees  Academy  at  Knoxville,  and 
from  there  to  the  Lhiiversity  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
.\rbor.  He  used  the  medium  of  school  teaching 
to  assist  in  financing  his  educational  plans,  and 
began  as  a  country  i)edagogne.  when  but  sixteen 
years  of  age.  So  stringent  were  his  financial  re¬ 
sources  that  when  he  reached  the  city  of  Shelby- 
ville,  after  his  graduation  in  the  year  1884.  he  had 
l)nt  thirty-five  cents  in  his  i)ocket. 

It  was  in  the  city  named  and  at  the  time- 
aforesaid  that  he  entered  upon  his  chosen  ])rofes- 
sion  of  law.  In  the  line  of  his  profession  he  has 
not  been  without  honors,  for  he  has  been  city 
attorney  for  a  period  of  four  years,  and  also 
state's  attorney  for  eight  consecutive  years. 

In  the  year  1888.  Mr.  Wallace  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  May,  daughter  of  (L  W.  and 
Margaret  llolinger.  Three  children  have  been 
born  of  this  union  :  Lew,  Margaret,  and  Wil¬ 
liam  ().  The  many  excellencies  of  Mrs.  Wal¬ 
lace,  both  as  a  maiden  and  a  mother,  have  been 
freciuently  mentioned  in  the  writer’s  hearing,  and 
it  is  with  genuine  delight  we  refer  to  the  home- 
life  of  a  busy  man  as  a  scene  of  domestic  felicity 
and  beauty.  It  is  a  current  mistake  to  think  only 
of  the  achievements  of  men.  and  forgot  the  rul¬ 
ing  power  of  "the  hand  that  rocks  the  cradle." 

Mr.  Wallace  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. 
and  Knight  Templar  lodges.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat,  though  not  an  intense  or  bitter  parti¬ 
san.  Success  in  a  business  way  is  the  result  of 
his  enter])rise;  he,  at  the  ])resent  time,  being  the 
owner  of  nearly  two  thousand  acres  of  land.  We 
learn  that  he  is  a  man  of  public  sjiirit.  and  have 


found  him  kindly  and  courteously  interested  in 
the  affairs  of  the  county.  Loth  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wallace  are  members  of  the  First  M.  E.  church. 

V  ^  V  ¥ 

DR.  THOMAS  L.  C.\THERW( )( )D. 

Prominent  among  the  leading  and  best- 
known  physicians  in  Shelby  county,  is  'riiomas 
L.  Catherwood.  The  doctor's  father  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  came  to  .\merica  with  his  parents 
when  but  a  mere  lad.  His  name  was  Thomas 
K.  The  doctor's  mother  was  Margare-t  (Smith) 
Catherwood,  a  native  of  X'irginia  ;  she  lived  to  be 
P4  years  of  age.  At  the  time  our  subject  was 
born,  which  occurred  on  the  5th  day  of  Jul\  , 
1827,  his  ])arents  were  residents  of  .\bingdon, 
\  a.,  but  in  the  year  1829.  they  emigrated  to  Car¬ 
lisle.  Ind.  He  S])ent  his  boyhood  days  in  the 
common  school  and  about  his  father's  shop — 
his  father  was  a  saddler  and  collar-maker.  .\t 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered  the  office  of 
Doctors  Murphy  and  Helms  in  his  resident  town, 
having  at  this  earl_v  age  determined  to  make 
medicine  his  life-study.  I-'or  four  years  he  was 
identified  with  this  office,  but  during  two  school 
years  of  this  ])eriod  he  attended  the  state  univer- 
sitv  at  I’loomington.  Ind.  In  this  institution  he 
pursued  a  scientific  course,  and  read  medicine 
between  the  semesters,  .\fter  leaving  the  office 
of  the  doctors  afore  named,  he  attended  medical 
lectures  in  Louisville.  Ky..and,  finally  on  the  13th 
day  of  April,  1847,  began  the  ])ractice  of  his  pro¬ 
fession  at  Middletown,  \  igo  county.  Indiana.  In 
this  year  the  doctor  was  wedded  to  ^liss  Mary 
Akin,  of  Carlisle.  Ind.  Two  children  were  born 
of  this  union — one  of  these  died  in  infancy,  and 
the  other,  widow  of  the  well-known  Dr.  A.  P. 
Floxsey,  is  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Shelbyville. 
This  girl-wife  of  the  doctor's  died  in  the  year 


257 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


1851.  Three  years  after  this  sad  event,  viz.,  in 
June,  1854,  he  moved  to  Mo\vea(ina,  Shelby 
county,  Illinois,  and  entered  ujron  his  profession¬ 
al  duties.  On  the  3rd  of  Sei)teinl)er,  1836,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  J.  Hardy,  of  lUoom- 
inj^ton.  111.,  and  this  coni)le  are  the  i)arents  of 
four  children  ;  .\da,  the  wife  of  Thomas  J,  Steid- 
lev,  of  Ridjai'e  townshi]) ;  Harriet  !’>.,  Mrs.  iCnos 
vScarhorouj^h,  of  Shelby  ville ;  and  h'rank  and 
(leorge,  who  died  in  young^  manhood.  I'or  five 
vears  during  the  doctor's  stay  in  Moweacpia,  he 
owned  and  managed  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  that 
town  :  and  during  his  residence  in  this  same 
place  his  thirst  for  knowledge  led  him  to  matric¬ 
ulation  with  the  Miami  Medical  college,  at  Cin¬ 
cinnati,  ().,  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu¬ 
ated  in  the  year  1870.  In  .April  of  1876.  he  came 
to  this  city  where  ever  since  he  has  made  his 
home.  Doctor  Catherwood  was  not  a  soldier, 
but  was  a  vxitness  of  the  bloody  struggle  at 
I’ittsbnrg  Landing,  he  being  there  on  ])rivate 
business  ;  his  only  real  taste  of  war  was  lending 
aid  in  caring  for  the  wounded  and  dying  during 
and  after  this  engagement.  For  three  years,  1858 
— 1861,  he  was  postmaster  in  his  home  village. 
During  ins  residence  here,  he  was  for  four  years 
surgeon  for  the  l’>ig  Four,  and  under  Cleveland's 
last  administation.  was  on  the  i)ension  board. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Shelby  County,  Central 
Illinois,  and  State  Medical  societies,  and  also  of 
the  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  K.  I’.,  I.  0.0.  F.,  K.  of  H.. 
and  A.  ( ).  I'.  \\  .  lodges.  In  irolitics  the  doctor 
has  been  a  life-long  democrat,  but  with  strong 
prohibition  proclivities.  Loth  himself  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is 
the  owner  of  a  large  and  well  selected  library  and 
of  a  comfortable  home  in  the  north  central  ])art 
of  the  city.  As  a  jiractitioner  his  skill  is  undis- 
]3Uted,  and  his  judgment  reliable.  His  practice 
has  been  large  and  long,  and  thousands  in  this 


county  have  looked  u])on  him  as  their  familv 
physician.  .\s  a  gentleman,  we  find  him  cour¬ 
teous.  affable,  well-informed  ;  an  up-to-date  man 
wlw)  has  grown  old  in  body  only. 

*  *  *  * 

JAMFS  A.  llAl’.lh 

'I'he  gentleman  of  whom  we  now  write  is 
known  throughout  the  county  as  the  old  and  re¬ 
liable  i)hotograi)her  of  Shelby  ville.  J  le  was  born 
May  8th.  1855,  in  Osage  comity,  Missouri.  His 
father  and  mother  were  Ih  F.  and  \'isa  (llarper) 
llabb;  she  died  in  1874  in  IJarkersville,  Mo.  In 
1879,  Mr.  ISabb  left  his  native  state  and  came  to 
Sullivan,  Moultrie  county,  Illinois.  At  this  place 
he  engaged  in  ])hotography,  and  after  a  period  of 
four  years  removed  to  Jefferson  City,  continuing 
in  the  same  employment.  In  1881,  he  came  to 
Shelbyville,  and  on  the  last  day  of  .August,  this 
same  year,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mar\ 
F..  daughter  of  Abram  and  Mary  Oliver.  Air. 
Oliver  is  now,  in  his  declining  years,  kindly 
furnished  a  home  with  Mr.  llabb.  Airs.  Oliver  de¬ 
ceased  in  1891,  was  the  first  white  girl  born  in 
Shelby  county. 

Air.  and  Airs.  l>abb  are  the  iiarents  of  six 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  childhood.  The 
other  four  are:  Tony  ().,  now  with  a  wholesale 
])hotographer  in  St.  Louis;  Fdith  AL,  wife  of 
William  Lum])p ;  Pearl  .A;  Flossie  K;  and  Alar- 
gery  L. 

Air.  Babb  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu¬ 
cation  ;  a  charter  member  of  the  K.  P.,  Redmen 
and  Woodmen  lodges  in  this  city.  His  entire 
family  are  members  of  the  First  AL  E.  church. 
In  his  chosen  line  of  work  Air.  Babb  is  a  success. 
The  photos  for  making  many  of  the  plates  which 
adorn  this  book  were  made  in  his  gallery,  and 
it  is  with  pleasure  we  refer  to  his  excellent  work¬ 
manship  and  prompt,  gentlemanly  treatment. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


DOCTOR  \V.  J.  EDDY. 

Favorably  known  among  the  best  practition¬ 
ers  of  Shelby  county,  is  \\’.  J.  Eddy.  His  rank 
among  the  best  is  adjudged  because  of  his  wide 
'practice,  his  success  in  the  treatment  of  disease, 
and  his  frequent  calls  in  consultation  with  other 
jdivsicians.  His  birthplace  is  the  city  of  Shelby- 
ville,  and  it  was  here,  on  the  13th  of  October, 
1857,  he  was  born  into  the  world.  His  father, 
for  whom  the  doctor  is  named,  was  a  native  of 
Cork,  Ireland,  ffe  was  born  in  1830,  and  com¬ 
ing  to  this  country  in  the  year  1848,  engaged  m 
shoe-making.  His  mother  was  Miss  Mary  J. 
Roberts,  of  Cornwall,  England  ;  she  was  born  in 
1832,  and  came  here  in  the  year  1843.  Thus  it 
will- appear  that  the  doctor’s  veins  are  filled  with 
genuine  Celtic  blood.  Ills  ])arent.s  died  in  the 
years  1889  and  1865,  resjiectively.  The  doctor 
was  the  second  of  four  children:  Mary  11.,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Rusk,  pastor  of  the  M. 
1C  church  at  Davis  City,  Iowa;  W’.  j.,  of  whom 
we  write:  John  R.,  deceased  in  i8(j(;,  leaving  a 
wife  and  two  children  ;  and  J.  11.,  who  is  a  phy¬ 
sician  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  lly  a  second  mar¬ 
riage  to  Rachel  llarrett  Mr.  ICddy  became  the 
father  of  one  daughter  and  three  sons:  \'alma 
1C,  who  is  a  resident  of  this  county:  R.  '1',,  who 
is  mentioned  in  our  cha])ter  on  the  "I’ar:”  (  )r- 
land,  a  dentist  in  Decatur,  and  who  is  the  hus¬ 
band  of  lUanch  .Alloop:  and  Dowling,  a  lawyer 
b\-  profession,  but  who  is  now  in  the  Klondike. 

Since  the  doctor  was  twelve  years  of  age  he 
has  known  how  to  provide  for  himself.  His  was 
a  boyhood  of  work.  He  worked  on  a  farm, 
learned  the  trade  followed  by  his  father,  and 
when  old  enough,  and  far  enough  advanced,  be¬ 
gan  teaching  school.  He  was  finally  able  to  at¬ 
tend  school  at  \'alparaiso.  Ind.,  and  subsequently 
at  the  State  Xormal  University.  Carbondale,  Til. 
After  deciding  to  make  medicine  his  studv,  he 


attended  the  Chicago  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  and  was  graduated  from  this  institu¬ 
tion  in  1885.  Since  that  time  he  has  taken  three 
])ost-graduate  courses:  .\  course  in  ( )pthalmol- 
ogy  in  Chicago:  a  course  in  Polyclinics  in  Chi¬ 
cago.  and  a  course  in  l-:,lectro  Thera])eutics  in 
Indianapolis.  'I  hese  s])ecial  courses,  in  addition 
to  the  regular  work  recpiired  for  the.M.  1).  degree, 
have  fitted  the  doctor  for  the  i)lace  of  eminence 
w  Inch  he  now  fills. 

In  1888,  on  the  M;th  day  of  September,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Carrie  \’..  daugh- 
ti'r  of  Dr.  X.  h'.  Chafee.  of  Shelbyville.  Miss 
Chafee  was  an  accomplished  young  lady  who 
had  taught  for  several  years  in  the  city  schools. 
'I'o  this  coui)le  have  been  born  three  children  : 
llrzel,  ( Ictober  5th.  1891  :  W  illiam  Chafee.  July 
27th.  i8(j5:  Mary  Josephine.  September  <;th. 
I  <,00. 

'I'he  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  1'.  iX  .\.  M., 
knight  'I'enqjlar.  and  K.  of  P.  lodges.  In  ])oli- 
tics  he  has  ever  been  an  out-spoken  republican, 
tluiugh  never  a  bitter  i)artisan. 

lie  IS  a  courteous,  accomplished,  Christian 
gentleman.  .\s  a  citizen  he  is  resepeted  :  as  a 
l)ractitioner  he  is  reliable,  having  a  com])lete  li¬ 
brary  and  office  ai)pliances  of  great  value.  The 
latter  includes  a  Static  machine  for  general  elec¬ 
trical  a])pliances.  and  X-Ray  work  :  indeed,  noth¬ 
ing  is  spared  which  enables  a  man  to  find  out 
and  master  diseases  :  as  a  husband  and  father  he 
has  no  greater  jov  than  in  the  bosom  of  his 
family,  and  there  he  may  ever  be  found  when 
not  on  professional  duty.  He  is  an  official  mem- 
‘  her  of  the  I'irst  M.  E.  church,  and  his  church  fel¬ 
lowship  is  shared  bv  his  estiniable  wife.  Theirs  is 
a  Christian  home,  a  noble  work,  and  we  have  yet 
t(r  learn  where  the  circle  of  their  friendship  is 
narroweel  by  aught  save  the  limit  of  their  ac- 
([uaintanceshi]). 


259 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


jri)(',E  THOMAvS  H.  RK'.HTER. 

In  writinjT  the  genealog^ical  and  l)iogra])hical 
^  sketch  of  the  one  whose  name  heads  this  article, 
we  are  gratified  that  data  is  furnished  us  which 
enables  us  to  begin  with  the  great  great  grand¬ 
father.  \’ery  few  of  those  who  read  this  review 
have  any  material  proof  that  the  Darwinian 
theory  of  our  ancestry  may  not  be  the  right  one. 
and  that  such  uncanny  relatives  do  not  belong 
to  their  family,  not  three  generations  in  the  ])ast. 

In  the  study  of  the  Righter  family  we  shall 
find  that  the  name  has  been  changed  in  its  si)ell- 
ing.  as  is  true  of  so  many  others.  These  changes 
mav  have  been  for  convenience  sake,  or,  as  is 
more  frequently  the  case,  for  euphonious  reasons. 

In  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  one, 
John  Reichter  by  name  settled  as  a  i)ioneer  in  the 
Keystone  state,  lie  was  a  native  of  ('jermany 
and  in  that  country  had  taken  for  a  wife  Miss 
Katharina  Raker.  This  couple  were  the  parents 
of  five  children  ;  three  of  the  sons  were  given  to 
the  i)atriot  cause,  and  served  under  Washington 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  These  three  were : 
John,  Jacob  and  Peter;  the  names  of  the  other 
two  children  were  Abraham  and  Hannah. 

John,  after  the  war,  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  Franklin,  the  great  grandmother  of  our 
subject.  These  were  the  parents  of  the  follow¬ 
ing  named  children  :  Abraham,  John,  Jacob. 
Mariah,  and  Peter.  This  last  named  one,  the 
grandfather  of  the  judge,  moved  to  Kentucky  in 
the  year  1800,  thus  becoming  one  of  the  early  set¬ 
tlers  of  that  commonwealth.  At  this  point,  one 
thread  in  our  genealogical  line  is  broken.  The 
name  of  Peter's  l)ride  is  unknown,  but  the  name 
of  his  children  follow :  George,  Grove.  Peter, 
and  Mary. 

The  first  named  of  these,  G.  Grove,  the 
father  of  the  judge,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  the 


year  1806.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Salome  Kilbourne ; 
the  ceremony  took  ])lace  in  Hamilton  county, 

( )hio,  whither  he  had  then  removed.  He  after¬ 
ward  emigrated  to  Shelby  county,  Indiana,  and 
died  there  about  the  time  the  Civil  war  began. 

( )f  this  marriage,  twelve  sons  and  two  daughters 
were  born.  The  daughters  and  four  sons  are  de¬ 
ceased. 

T.  H.  Righter,  the  youngest  of  these  four¬ 
teen  children,  was  born  near  Morristown,  llid., 
Xov.  2 1  St,  i860.  He  has  no  recollection  of  his 
l)arents,  they  having  died  while  he  was  yet  an  in¬ 
fant.  He  was  reared  by  his  sister  Katherine  and 
his  brother  O.  C.  Righter.  .After  the  judge  was 
thirteen  years  of  age,  he  worked  u])on  a  farm 
during  the  summer  season,  and  attended  school 
during  the  winter.  This  he  continued  until  he 
began  teaching  in  the  year  1880.  This  was,  in¬ 
deed,  a  rugged  ladder  to  climb,  but  over  similarly 
rough  rounds  have  men  climbed  to  the  loftiest- 
attitudes  of  human  achievement. 

•After  teaching  for  some  time,  he  was  able 
to  attend  school  at  Lebanon,  ( )hio,  and  at  A'al- 
])araiso,  Ind.  He  read  law  with  Judge  Truman 
E.  Ames,  and  also  with  Hon.  H.  J.  Hamlin,  at¬ 
torney  general.  In  1893  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  immediately  began  the  ])ractice  of  law 

in  this  citv. 

'  \ 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1894,  he  was 
united  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Laura  E.  York,  an  ac¬ 
complished  young  lady  who  was  a  teacher  in  the 
city  schools.  One  child  has  blessed  this  union — 
Gertrude  Salome,  who  was  born  November  9th. 
1899. 

‘‘.Ah  !  what  would  the  world  be  to  us 

If  the  children  were  no  more? 

We  should  dread  the  desert  behind  us 

Worse  than  the  dark  before. 


260 


JOHN  W.  YANTIS 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


What  the  leaves  are  to  the  forest, 

With  light  and  air  and  food, 

Ere  their  sweet  and  tender  juices 
Have  hardened  into  wood — 

That  to  the  world  are  children  ; 

'Ihrongh  them  it  feels  the  glow 
Of  a  bright  and  sunnier  climate 
Than  reaches  the  trunks  below. 

Children  are  better  than  ballads 
That  were  ever  sung  or  said  ; 

For  they  are  living  poems, 

-And  all  the  rest  are  dead." 

Tn  1898  Mr.  Righter  was  honored  by  being 
chosen  County  Judge.  As  an  official,  we  have 
yet  to  hear  one  of  his  decisions  criticised. 

He  is  courteous,  affable  and  approachable. 
Ife  is  a  self-made  man  who  is  not  too  greatly 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  man  wlio 
made  him.  ^^'e  account  it  a  pleasure  to  know 
him,  and  speak  sincere  words  concerning  the 
esteem  in  which  he  and  his  estimable  wife,  are 
held  by  the  entire  community. 

'it.  "if.  "ifi  -ifi 

JOHN  W.  VAXTIS. 

John  W.  Yantis  is  a  name  familiar  through¬ 
out  Illinois.  He  has  been,  during  recent  years, 
the  almost  constant  sharer  of  ])uhlic  honors.  For 
four  years  he  served  as  supervisor  of  his  town  • 
ship  (Shelbyville),  being  at  that  time  the  young 
est  man  ever  chosen  for  the  position.  Dining 
two  of  these  years,  he  was  chairman  of  the  hoard. 
At  the  expiration  of  this  term  of  service,  he  was 
again  tendered  the  nomination  for  the  same  po¬ 
sition,  but  declined,  as  he  was  chosen  as  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  State  Hoard  of  Eiiualization.  After 
serving  his  district  in  this  capacity,  he  received 
appointment  from  Governor  Altgeld  as  secre¬ 
tary  of  the  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commis¬ 
sion.  While  serving  on  this  hoard,  he  repre¬ 


sented  this  commonwealth  before  the  national 
meeting  of  the  Railroad  Commissioners  with  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  which  con¬ 
vened  in  the  city  of  \\  ashington.  Mr.  Yantis 
has  ever  been  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
local  democracy,  and.  in  the  campaign  just 
jiassed,  further  honors  were  bestowed  upon  him. 
He  was  re-elected  to  a  memhership  in  the  State 
Hoard  of  Eiiualization.  In  one  congressional 
campaign  he  was  unanimously  recommended  liy 
this  county  for  a  seat  in  Congress,  and  only 
lacked  one  vote  of  securing  the  nomination.  Mr. 
^’antis  is  a  true  son  of  the  county,  having  been 
horn  within  its  hounds  May  13th,  1853.  His 
father,  Daniel,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  hut 
emigrated  with  his  parents  to  ( )hio  when  he  was 
four  years  of  age.  His  (John’s)  mother  was 
IClizaheth  Longenhaugh,  a  native  of  ( )hio.  This 
cou])le  came  to  Illinois  in  1853.  John  is  the 
youngest  of  fifteen  children,  and  was  reared  u])on 
his  father’s  farm  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
county.  .\t  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  entered  the 
college  at  Westfield,  Illinois;  afterwards,  he 
sjient  one  term  in  the  college  instituted  in  Shel- 
hyville  under  the  firm  name  of  Wilson  &  Hul- 
hurst.  During  the  time  spent  m  this  institution 
he  worked,  Saturdays,  mornings,  etc.,  as  clerk 
for  Kleeman  &  Goldstein.  .Afterward,  Mr.  Yan¬ 
tis  entered  the  Hryant  &  Stratton  college  in  Chi¬ 
cago.  and  was  graduated  in  a  business  and  com¬ 
mercial  law  course  in  the  year  1876.  In  this 
same  year,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Tracy  J. 
James,  .a  native  of  this  county.  To  this  couple 
were  horn  two  children — Mabel,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Xeher,  of  this  city:  and  Juanita,  an  ac¬ 
complished  young  lady  who  was  graduated  from 
the  High  school  in  1900.  In  1881  Mr.  Yantis 
suffered  the  loss  of  his  wife.  He  was  subsequently 
married  to  a  sister  of  his  former  wife.  Miss  Cor¬ 
delia  Janies.  Two  children  bless  this  union — 


261 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Inez,  who  completes  lier  liij^h  scliool  course  this 
])resent  year,  and  Ainl)rey  Leon. 

For  a  period  of  thirteen  years.  I)ef^inninjj 
with  Fehruary,  1878,  .Mr.  Vantis  conducted  a 
i^eneral  merchandise  hnsiness  in  this  city,  having 
for  a  partner  .Mr.  J.  .-\.  James,  .\fter  the  dissolu¬ 
tion  of  this  partnership  he  opened  a  real  estate 
and  loan  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  follow- 
ing  ortjanizations :  .-X.  ( ).  U.  \\’..  I.  ( ).  ().  F., 

F.  &  .\.  ^I.,  K.  T..  K.  i*..  Eastern  Star.  .Modern 
Woodmen,  Rebeccas  and  .Modern  .\mericans. 
Two  of  these  organizations  he  has  served  in  a 
cons])icuous  manner,  havinjj^  acted  as  l)e])art- 
ment  (irand  .Master  for  Illinois  in  the  ( )dd  Fel¬ 
lows’  order,  and  for  two  years  as  (jrand  .Master 
in  the  .\ncient  Order  of  L’nited  Workmen,  lie 
has  also  represented  local  interests -in  the  su¬ 
preme  meeting  of  this  organization.  Mr.  Vantis 
and  his  entire  family  arc  members  of  the  Metho¬ 
dist  Episco])al  church,  and  he  is  oil  the  official 
board  of  this  organization.  He  lives  in  a  beau¬ 
tiful  home  of  his  own,  situated  about  one  block 
from  the  court  house.  Mr.  Vantis  is  a  gentle¬ 
man.  He  seems  to  have  the  hai)])y  faculty  of 
serving  the  people  in  a  jiuhlic  cajiacity,  without 
making  enemies  or  reflecting  discredit  upon 
himself.  He  also  seems  to  have  escajied  un¬ 
scathed  those  repulsive  habits  which  so  often 
affix  themselves  to  our  public  men.  He  is  cour¬ 
teous  and  affable,  and  we  think  it  but  fair  to  pre¬ 
dict  these  successes  of  his  earlier  life  are  but  the 
earnest  of  more  splendid  achievements  yet  to 
come. 

.\TT()RXEV  GEXER.AL  H.  J.  H.\MLIX. 

"Howland  J.  Hamlin  was  liorn  in  St.  Law¬ 
rence  county,  Xew  Vork,  on  the  13th  day  of  July, 
1850.  He  was  educated  m  the  district  schools. 


and  at  Lawrenceville  .\cademy.  at  Lawrence- 
ville,  .X.  V.,  and  finished  his  education  at  the 
State  Xormal  L’niversity  at  Potsdam,  X.  V’.  He 
came  to  Illinois  in  1870  and  was  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  |)ublic  schools  in  Shelby  and 
.Moultrie  counties  for  some  time.  He  was  Super¬ 
intendent  of  the  Public  Schools  at  Windsor,  Illi¬ 
nois.  He  read  law  with  Judge  .Anthony  Thorn¬ 
ton,  Ex-Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois, 
and  George  R.  W'endling.  He  was  admitted  to 
practice  at  the  Supreme  Court  in  June,  1875.  He 
at  once  entered  into  ])artnershii)  with  Judge 
'I  hornton  and  George  R.  Wendling,  which  part- 
nershi])  continued  until  .Mr.  Wendling  retired 
fiom  the  firm  and  entered  the  lecture  field.  The 
firm  then  became  Thornton  &  Hamlin,  and  the 
partnership  existed  for  several  years,  until  Judge 
'r hornton  removed  to  Decatur,  Illinois,  when 
.Mr.*  Hamlin  became  the  head  of  the  i)resent  firm. 
Hamlin  &  Kelley.  .Mr.  Hamlin  has  been  one  of 
the  most  prominent  lawyers  in  Central  Illinois 
for  several  years.  He  has  prosecuted  and  de¬ 
fended  .some  of  the  most  noted  criminal  cases 
tried  in  the  State.  He  has  been  actively  engaged 
in  the  jjractice  of  his  jirofession  in  nearly  all  of 
the  counties  of  Central  Illinois,  and  many  in 
Southern  Illinois.  He  has  also  had  cjuite  an  ex¬ 
tensive  practice  in  Chicago.  He  is  considered 
among  the  most  successful  lawyers  at  the  bar  in 
the  state.  He  is  known  to  be  a  man  of  the  high¬ 
est  integrity  and  his  reputation  as  a  lawyer  is 
without  blot  or  blemish.  He  has  been  promin¬ 
ent  in  Rejniblican  jiolitics  for  a  long  time.  Has 
served  upon  the  State  Central  Committee  for  sev¬ 
eral  years.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Xational 
Convention  that  nominated  Mr.  McKinley.  He 
was  Chairman  of  the  last  Repuhlican  State  Con¬ 
vention  and  in  his  speech  made  before  that  con¬ 
vention  outlined  the  policy  that  should  be  pur¬ 
sued  with  regard  to  the  (prestions  of  ex])ansion. 


262 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


In  speaking  of  the  argument  made  by  Mr.  Ham¬ 
lin  on  that  occasion,  the  Inter-Ocean  said  as  fol¬ 
lows  : 

“  ‘The  great  speech  of  the  Republican  Con¬ 
vention  at  Springfield  in  ujoo  was  made  by 
Judge  Hamlin.  As  permanent  chairman  he  was 
delegated,  in  a  measure,  to  speak  for*  the  party 
in  Illinois,  and  he  spoke  in  no  uncertain  tones. 
He  recalled  the  campaign  of  i8(j6  by  a  clear 
statement  of  issues  that  he  might  more  clearly 
show  that  the  republican  party  had  redeemed  its 
pledges.  The  jilatform  of  i8ij6  promised  the 
prompt  passage  of  a  new  tariflf  act.  and  a  return 
of  prosperity  under  the  republican  jiolicy.  The 
I  )ingley  bill  was  passed,  and  in  ten  months  the 
excess  of  exports  over  imports'  was  $500.000.000 ; 
the  exports  of  goods  manufactured  in  .America 
exceeded  the  imports  of  goods  manufactured  in 
foreign  countries  by  over  $4,000,000.  and  every¬ 
where  there  was  greater  industrial  activity  and 
increased  prices  for  American  products.  This 
was  putting  the  case  in  a  nutshell  to  illustrate  the 
results  of  a  return  to  republican  policy. 

"Mr.  Hamlin  treated  state  affairs  with  the 
same  definiteness,  showing  the  slovenly  incom¬ 
petency  and  dishonesty  of  the  Altgeld  adminis¬ 
tration  in  contrast  with  the  thorough-going  busi¬ 
ness  r.'iethods  of  the  Tanner  administration.  He 
swept  over  the  record  in  a  way  to  make  plain 
facts  and  figures  pay  a  finer  tribute  to  ('jovernor 
Tanner  than  words  of  warmest  eulogy.  Starting 
with  the  statement  that  Governor  Fifer  at  the 
close  of  his  adminisration  turned  over  to  the 
.Htgeld  administration  a  cash  balance  of  $2,500.- 
000  in  the  treasury,  and  at  the  beginning  of  his 
first  fiscal  year  Governor  Tanner  found  a  deficit 
of  $2,000,000.  Air.  Hamlin  showed  what  eners>fv. 
honesty,  and  economy  in  administration  had  ac¬ 
complished  under  Governor  Tanner.  Xever 
did  national  or  state  administration  have  in  anv 


republican  convention  more  telling  and  striking 
points  made  in  its  favor 'than  Air.  Hamlin  pre¬ 
sented  in  his  speech.  There  was  not  much  gen¬ 
eralization  ;  there  were  no  common-places  or 
platitudes ;  but  swift  blows  that  rang  when  thev 
struck  home,  to  rouse  the  spirit  of  stalwart  re¬ 
publicans. 

"The  most  significant  of  all  Air.  Handin's 
utterances  was  that  referring  to  the  war  policy 
of  the  administration.  ( )thers  had  spoken  of  the 
limitations  imposed  on  the  government  waging 
a  war  of  humanity,  but  Air.  Hamliu  outlined  a 
liolicy  that  "would  strike  the  last  vestige  of  Span¬ 
ish  treachery  and  cruelty  from  the  W  estern 
hemisphere."  and  that  would  mark  a  new  epoch 
in  the  history  of  this  country.  W  hen  he  sjioke 
of  Commodore  Dewey's  raising  the  stars  and 
stripes  in  the  I’hilippine  Islands,  there  to  stay, 
the  convention  went  wild  with  enthusiasm.  Xo 
other  utterance  of  the  day  met  with  prompter 
and  heartier  api)roval.  and  no  ])lank  in  the  plat¬ 
form  was  more  enthusiastically  aiijilauded  than 
that  declaring  the  Cnited  States  should  hold  sucii 
compiered  territory  as  would  be  advantageous 
to  its  interests  in  time  of  war  and  peace.  ( )n  the 
same  day  W".  J.  IJryan.  sjieaking  at  ( )maha.  de¬ 
clared  against  retaining  Puerto  Rico  or  the  Phil¬ 
ippines.  Time  will  show  whether  he  spoke  for 
his  party  or  not.  I)ut  no  one  can  doubt  where  the 
republicans  of  Illinois  stand  on  the  question.’  " 

"In  1896.  when  the  Free  Silver  craze  swept 
over  the  state.  Air.  Hamlin  was  called  upon  by 
the  Congressional  Committee  of  the  Eighteenth 
District  to  speak  in  each  county  in  the  district. 
He  spoke  at  X’andalia.  Illinois,  early  in  July  and 
the  speech  made  there  was  made  into  a  campaign 
document,  and  was  circulated  throughout  the 
district.  It  was  pronounced  a  complete  answer 
to  the  Free  Silver  and  Free  Trade  arguments  ad¬ 
vanced  by  his  op])onents.  He  is  regarded  as  one 


26' 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


of  tile  ablest  campaign  speakers  in  the  state,  and 
no  name  that  has  yet  been  mentioned  for  any 
office  on  the  state  ticket  would  add  more  strength 
to  the  ticket  than  that  of  Mr.  Hamlin.  Shelby 
comity  has  never  before  asked  for  a  state  office." 

The  above  eihtome  of  Mr.  Hamlin’s  life  is 
taken  from  the  Shelbyville  Weekly  Union.  In 
addition  to  this  we  make  mention  of  his  election, 
by  an  overwhelming  majority,  to  the  Attorney 
(generalship  of  Illinois;  the  foregoing  article  was 
published  during  the  camjiaign. 

Mr.  Hamlin  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ulla  M.  York,  of  W  indsor,  June  8th,  1876.  The 
bride  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Eli  \'ork.  one  of 
the  oldest  jihysicians  in  his  townshii),  but  de¬ 
ceased  some  years  since,  .\fter  the  death  of  her 
mother,  IMiss  York,  then  but  a  child,  was  taken 
into  the  home  of  Dr.  Jesse  York,  one  of  Illinois’ 
most  famous  physicians,  where  she  was  reared 
to  womanhood.  Mrs.  Hamlin  is  a  bright,  viva¬ 
cious  woman  who  is  the  centre  of  a  wide  social 
circle.  To  this  couple  five  children  have  been 
born.  W'c  subjoin  the  family  record:  Howard 
1).,  born  Dec.  1877;  .Agnes  Y.,  born  Xov.  1879; 
H.  J.  Jr.,  born  Dec.  1884;  Jesse  Y.,  born  Dec. 
1887;  Alary  Ik,  born  June  1890.  The  last  named 
died  in  infancy:  Jesse  is  in  school  here  in  Shel¬ 
byville;  H.  J.  is  completing  his  course  in  the 
Western  Alilitary  Academy  at  Alton,  Illinois; 
Agnes,  a  graduate  of  the  Georgetown  Univer¬ 
sity,  Washington,  1).  C.,  is  at  home.  She 

is  possessed  of  a  rich  and  cultured  voice,  and. 
through  her  womanly  graces  and  acipiired  abil¬ 
ity.  takes  a  prominent  jilace  among  the  young 
])eo])le  of  the  city :  Howard  is  engaged  in  busi¬ 
ness  in  Chicago.  The  Hamlin  residence  is  on 
North  llroadway,  and  is  a  recognized  centre  of 
hos])itality  and  royal  entertainment.  Few  men 
carry  public  honors  with  more  grace  than  Mr. 
Hamlin.  He  is  bound  to  be  a  people’s  man.  He 


is  never  too  busy,  and  never  too  conceited  to 
s])eak  to  an  acciuaintance,  no  matter  how  poor 
or  lowly  that  aciiuaintance  may  be.  We  hear  the 
sentiment  voiced  almost  daily,  "Mr.  Hamlin  will 
be  Governor  of  Illinois  some  day.’’  Ilecause  of 
our  personal  ac(|uaintanceshi])  with  the  man,  be¬ 
cause  we  know  his  worth,  because  we  believe 
in  his  fairness,  ability  and  manlujod,  we  unite  in 
swelling  this  sentiment. 

*  *  *  H" 

IK  )X  GK( ).  R.  ('.RAVISIEU. 

Known  es])ecially  in  ])ress  and  political  cir¬ 
cles  throughout  the  entire  county  is  the  name 
(ie().  R.  (iraybill.  He  was  born  near  Lancaster, 
<  )hio :  the  date  of  his  birth  being  Jan.  30th,  1854. 
When  he  was  but  tw(j  years  of  age,  his  ])arents. 
.Samuel  R.  and  Sarah  (Carlisle)  Graybill,  emi¬ 
grated  to  this  state.  His  childhood  was  sjjent 
upon  his  father’s  farm  in  the  southern  portion  of 
this  county.  Like  other  farm-lads  he  knew  the 
meaning  of  toil,  and  the  value  of  a  dollar  earned 
by  manual  labor.  His  parents  resided  in  this 
county  until  their  death,  which  occurred  in  1896 
and  1872,  resi)ectively.  George  attended  the 
common  school  in  the  country  district  of 
his  home,  and  afterward  matriculated 
with  the  L'niversity  of  Illinois.  He  was  also 
under  ])rivate  tutorship  in  the  city  of  Chicago, 
thus  completing  a  first-class  education. 

During  his  youth  and  young  manhood,  he 
was  able  to  finance  his  educational  plans  by 
clerking  in  a  store  and  by  teaching  school.  In 
August,  1885  he  took  charge  of  the  Shelbyville 
Democrat,  a  paper  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  and  has  since  continued  as  its  editor. 
In  the  year  1888,  on  the  18th  day  of  January  Air. 
George  Graybill  and  Aliss  Etta  AI.  Laughlin.  of 
Shelby  county  were  united  in  marriage.  The 


264 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


l)ri(le  is  the  daughter  of  Janies  and  Henrietta 
(Mnrjihy)  Langlilin.  Slie  was  educated  at  the 
Dixon  college,  and  is  an  accomplished  lady  who 
takes  delight  in  domestic,  literary,  musical  and 
Sunday  school  work.  To  this  couple  have  been 
horn  five  children,  the  first  of  which  died  at  liirth. 
1  he  others  whose  names  and  birthdays  follow, 
are:  Fay  Laughlin,  Ajiril  i6,  i8yo;  Clara  May, 
July  25,  1892;  Leo  Carlisle,  July  23,  1894;  Hen¬ 
rietta  Sarah,  Xov.  22,  1896. 

In  1898  Mr.  Grayhill  received  public  honor 
in  being  elected  member  of  the  Illinois  Assem¬ 
bly.  His  interest  in  educational  affairs  gave  him 
a  place  upon  the  City  Hoard  of  Education  for 
six  years.  W’e  have  found  Mr.  Grayhill  a  cour¬ 
teous,  kindly-disposed,  i)ublic-si)irited  man.  He 
is  well  informed  upon  general  to])ics  of  interest 
and  all  matters  of  the  day.  His  versatility  is  of 
wide  scope;  his  opinions  are  firm,  and  the  circle 
of  his  influence  and  friendship  is  great.  In  the 
social  life  of  the  city  Mr.  Grayhill  and  wife  figure 
prominently.  Their  residence  is  upon  a  bold 
bluff  overlooking  the  river,  and  here,  we  are  told, 
a  busy  man  finds  his  greatest  enjoyment  in  the 
bosom  of  his  family.  It  is  saying  none  too  much 
and  none  too  little  to  state  that  he  ranks  among 
the  first  citizens  of  the  city  and  countv. 

*  *  *  * 

L.  Ror.ERT  I’ACSCHKRT. 

I 

The  parents  of  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch  were  born  in  Germany,  and 
came  to  this  country  before  their  marriage.  The 
names  of  the  parents  are  Fred  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Schneider)  Pauschert.  The  father  came  to  this 
city  at  an  early  date  and  has  long  since  been 
recognized  among  the  substantial,  business  citi¬ 
zens.  The  faithful  and  devoted  mother  died 
when  Robert  was  but  a  mere  lad. 


He  was  born  into  this  world  in  the  citv  of 
St.  Louis,  March  21st,  1858,  and  he  recalls  no 
other  home.  His  education  was  received  here¬ 
in  the  city  schools.  At  an  early  jicriod  in  his 
life  he  began  assisting  his  father  about  the  store, 
and  has  really  made  the  mercantile  business  his 
life  work. 

On  the  21st  day  of  September.  1882,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Kate  daughter  of 
Jacob  F.  Maurer,  of  Rural  township.  This  coujile 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  one  of  whom 
died  at  the  beginning  of  life’s  day.  The  remain¬ 
ing  three  are:  Miss  llarbara,  now  in  the  high 
school,  and  Henry  and  Cora. 

In  the  year  1888.  Mr.  Pauschert  took  ])os- 
.session  of  the  store  in  Moulton,  which  he  has 
since  conducted  in  his  own  name.  W’e  noticed 
a  large  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  learn 
that  he  conducts  a  lucrative  and  successful  busi¬ 
ness.  His  fitness  for  positions  of  resi)onsibilitv 
and  public  weal  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact 
that  for  nine  consecutive  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Hoard  of  Education  ;  has  akso 
been  City  Treasurer,  and  .Alderman.  The  entire 
family  are  devoted  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  are  held  in  high  esteem  bv  all  their 
friends.  Mr.  Pauschert  is  a  very  jileasant  and 
affable  man.  and  for  honestv  and  integritv  there 
are  none  who  rank  higher.  His  place  in  the 
hearts  of  his  town’s  folk  will  be  increasinglv 
large. 

*  ^  * 

JACOH  H.  EPLER. 

He  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county.  Pennsylvania,  Se])tembcr 
21st,  1844.  His  parents.  .Abraham  and  Mary 
(Singerl  Epler,  were  natives  of  the  Keystone 
state,  but  they  emigrated  to  Indiana  when  Jacob 


265 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


was  l)ut  two  and  one-half  years  old.  The  place 
where  they  settled  was  within  the  i)resent  cor¬ 
porate  limits  of  the  city  of  Indianapolis.  The 
hoyhood  of  our  subject  was  not  unlike  that  of 
other  farmer  boys  of  those  days.  Mr.  Ei)ler  has 
no  recollection  of  his  mother,  she  having  died 
when  he  was  hut  three  years  old.  This  unspeak¬ 
able  loss  no  man  can  estimate,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  conjecture  how  greatly,  or  in  what  manner, 
this  sad  circumstance  may  have  affected  the  life 
of  him  whose  biography  we  now  write. 

Mr.  Kpler  had  a  genuinely  religious  train¬ 
ing.  His  father  was  a  mendjer  of  the  (lerman 
Evangelical  church,  and  Jacob  was  trained  in 
the  simple  and  earnest  faith  of  this  sect.  His  only 
educational  advantages  were  those  of  the  com¬ 
mon  school.  The  death  of  Mr.  Epler,  Sr.,  occur¬ 
red  when  Jacob  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age. 
.\fter  the  death  of  his  father  Jacob  went  to  the 
home  of  an  uncle  at  Peru,  Ind.,  where  he  worked 
upon  a  farm  for  the  period  of  one  year.  He  then 
returned  to  the  old  home-farm,  where  he  labored 
until  his  enlistment  for  service  in  the  Civil  war, 
which  occurred  on  the  first  day  of  August,  1861. 
He  united  with  the  nth  Ind.  \'ol.  Infantry. 

The  service  of  Mr.  Epler  was  paralleled  but 
by  few.  He  was  at  the  capture  of  forts  Henry 
and  Donelson,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh  and  Corinth,  Miss.  From  the  latter  named 
place  his  regiment  was  sent  down  to  take  Mem¬ 
phis,  but  was  too  late  to  participate  in  the  en¬ 
gagement.  He  next  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Port  Gibson,  and  was  also  in  the  struggles  at 
Paker's  Creek,  Raymond,  and  Champion  Hill. 
The  ‘‘Siege  of  \  icksburg”  will  ever  be  fresh  in 
his  mind.  For  forty-seven  days  he  was  under 
fire.  Grant  had  said,  “I’ll  stay  till  I  take  the  city, 
if  it  takes  me  thirty  years,"  and  throughout  this 
most  famous  siege,  our  subject  was  a  constant 
actor.  From  \’icksburg,  he  went  to  Jackson, 


Miss.,  assisting  in  its  recapture.  Thence  he 
passed  down  the  river  to  Xew  Orleans,  and  from 
there  to  the  western  part  of  Louisiana,  and  the 
eastern  borders  of  Texas  where  some  sharp 
skirmishing  took  place. 

Having  returned  to  Xew  Orleans,  Mr. 
Epler  re-enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country, 
but  this  time  as  a  veteran  ;  Dec.  23rd,  1863,  being 
the  date.  In  the  following  March,  he  obtained  a 
furlough  and  visited  his  friends  at  home.  It  was 
while  home  on  this  furlough  that  Mr.  Epler  first 
had  trouble  with  his  eyes.  .-Xfter  the  expiration 
of  his  furlough,  he  returned  to  Xew  Orleans,  and 
in  a  very  short  time  was  transferred  to  the  de¬ 
partment  of  the  Shenandoah.  He  then  took  part 
in  the  battle  of  Halltown,  and  the  battle  of  Win¬ 
chester,  which  engagement  i)roved  to  be  his  last. 
In  this  battle  he  was  shot  through  the  right  knee, 
and  laid  where  he  fell,  cold,  wet,  and  blood- 
soaked,  all  through  the  night.  In  the  morning 
he  was  jncked  up,  and  carried  to  a  field  hos¬ 
pital  :  from  thence  he  was  sent  to  the  Saterlee 
hospital,  Philadelphia.  He  was  kept  a  close  pa¬ 
tient  in  this  institution  for  the  period  of  six 
months,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  dis¬ 
charged,  being,  then,  totally  blind.  That  one 
terrible  night  on  the  battle-field  further  weakened 
the  fading  eyes  of  our  hero,  and  resulted  in  their 
total  destruction  ;  but  by  loss  of  limbs  and  eyes 
and  lives  was  the  Union  saved.  Who  shall  say 
the  price  was  too  great?  Such  a  claim  is  never 
made  by  those  who  endured  the  hardship  and 
suffering. 

Mr.  Epler  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi¬ 
ness,  after  the  war,  until  he  came  with  a  brother- 
in-law  to  the  state  of  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1867. 
The  gentleman  in  question,  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Douglas  county,  and  shortly  thereafter  died.  Our 
subject  then  conducted  the  farm  and  stock-rais¬ 
ing  business  of  his  widowed  sister  during  a 


266 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


period  of  thirteen  years.  It  was  during  this  in¬ 
terval  that  he  was  converted  to  God.  His  con¬ 
version  was  a  clear  and  radical  one,  and  he  at 
once  sought  and  found  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  denomina¬ 
tion  he  has  ever  remained  an  active  and  devoted 
communicant.  After  his  conversion  he  became 
intimately  associated  and  acquainted  with  Rev. 

L.  Plowman,  a  young  preacher  who  was  fit¬ 
ting  himself  for  the  itinerant  ministrv.  Mr. 
Epler's  thirst  for  knowledge  was  great ;  and  he 
persuaded  Mr.  Plowman  to  allow  him  to  join 
with  him  in  the  pursuit  of  his  studies ;  this  was 
agreed  to.  Plowman,  of  course,  furnishing  eyes 
for  both.  They  thus  worked  in  study  together 
for  four  years. 

Our  subject  has  an  excellent  memory,  and 
no  mean  knowledge  of  the  Word  of  God  and  the 
doctrines  and  tenets  of  the  church.  He  has 
found  opportunity  to  use  his  talent  in  supplying 
the  Toledo,  Greenup,  and  Marshall  circuits,  each 
for  one  year.  His  labors  in  the  evangelistic  line 
have  been  abundant  through  his  ministry,  souls 
in  large  numbers  have  been  “born  again.” 

On  the  loth  day  of  April,  1884,  the  wed¬ 
ding  bells  rang  for  Jacob  H.  Epler,  and  Miss 
Mollie  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Margaret 
(Crockett)  Johnston.  The  grandfather  of  the 
bride  was  one  of  Shelby  county’s  first  pioneers : 
while  her  mother  was  of  the  Davey  Crockett, 
and  also  of  the  Gen.  Thornton  line.  Pour  chil¬ 
dren  were  born  of  this  marriage :  Beulah  and 
Helen  K.,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Grace  Eddy 
and  Lloyd  Johnston. 

The  failure  of  Mrs.  Epler’s  health  caused  her 
to  be  in  the  south  for  two  years ;  her  husband 
was  with  her  one  of  these  years,  viz.,  in  1891. 
This  couple  are  highly  respected  in  the  city 
where  they  now  reside.  When  the  new  and 
handsome  IMethodist  church  was  built,  Mr.  Epler 


inaugurated  the  movement  which  resulted  in  the 
placing  of  the  large  memorial  G.  A.  R.  window 
in  the  south  front.  In  politics  he  has  ever  been 
a  republican,  and  like  nearly  all  wbo  wore  the 
blue,  he  is  very  firm  in  his  political  beliefs. 

His  life-work  has  been  performed  under 
great  difficulties,  but  he  has  wrought  well.  We 
cannot  say  he  is  blind,  for  he  sees  “great  light." 
He  is  journeying  to  the  land  of  perfect  day ;  and 
the  day  of  his  death  will  be  to  him  the  morning 
of  the  rising  of  the  sun. 

*  *  *  * 

DR.  JESSE  A.  BOWMAN. 

The  unquestioned  leader  among  the  den¬ 
tists  of  Shelby  county  is  the  one  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch.  In  the  year  1891.  he  originat¬ 
ed  the  painless  method  of  extracting  and  filling 
teeth,  which  he  has  since  practiced  :  this,  with 
courteous,  gentlemanly  manners,  has  exalted 
him  to  the  first  rank.  He  was  born  near  Rock- 
port.  Illinois,  Dec.  27th,  1863  :  and  after  tbe  death 
of  his  father  and  mother  (McEwen  by  name)  was 
adopted  into  the  home  of  Dr.  Jas.  Bowman  of 
this  city.  By  his  foster  parents,  he  was  reared 
as  carefully  as  though  he  had  been  their  own  son. 
.\fter  his  graduation  from  the  Indianapolis  Den¬ 
tal  college  in  1884.  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  adoptive  father,  which  was  broken  by  the 
death  of  the  latter  in  A.  D.  1885.  Since  the  date 
just  mentioned  Jesse  has  conducted  the  business 
alone,  and  with  a  constantly  increasing  success 
and  widening  practice.  He  is  gifted  in  the  musi¬ 
cal  .line,  and  has  done  efficient  work  in  a  quar¬ 
tet  well  known  throughout  Illinois. 

He  is  the  manager  of  two  branch  dental 
offices,  located  at  Pana  and  Mattoon.  respec¬ 
tively. 

His  marriage  with  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of 


267 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Cliarles  Reiss,  of  Shelhyville,  was  solemnized  on 
the  30th  (lay  of  June,  1886.  Four  children  have 
been  horn  of  this  union  :  Fred  Homer,  Oct.  2nd, 
1887;  Carl  Randolph,  Feb.  14th,  188(4;  George 
Arthur,  May  2(4th,  18(40:  Floy  Elisabeth,  Xov. 
30th,  18(41. 

This  family  circle  is  well  received  in  the 
best  social  life  of  the  city.  The  doctor  is  Fast 
Chancelhjr  of  the  K.  1*.  hjdge,  is  also  a  Mason 
(Capt.  of  the  Host),  and  C(junty  Chancellor  of 
the  Court  of  Honor,  lloth  himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  The  future 
evidently  holds  in  store  for  the  doctor  an  impor¬ 
tant  place  in  the  financial,  as  well  as  social  and 
professional  life  of  the  county. 

I'lERCY  COOPER. 

The  fact  that  “blood  is  thicker  than  water" 
has  few  more  striking  proofs  than  is  found  in  the 
manner  in  which  we  regard  those  citizens  of  our 
country  who  are  of  English  birth.  We  regard 
and  class  as  “immigrants”  those  who  come  to  us 
from  all  other  lands,  but  those  who  come  from 
our  Mother  Country  we  more  fre(iuently  style 
“Our  English  Cousins.”  We  are  too  proud  of 
blood  which  is  of  Anglo-Saxon  mixture  to  re¬ 
fer  to  England’s  sons  and  daughters  who  come  to 
our  shores  in  that  vulgar  sounding  term  “immi¬ 
grant.”  Piercy  Cooper  was  born  in  Fimber, 
Yorkshire,  Eng.,  Dec.  ]2th,  1854.  His  parents 
were  Mason  and  Jane  (Holtby)  Cooper,  and  be¬ 
longed  to  the  country-folk  of  their  shire.  They 
lived  in  a  country  village  in  the  simple  manner 
common  to  English  rural  life.  Here  our  subject 
was  reared  ;  here  he  learned  his  first  lessons  in 
life. 

Unfortunately  for  him,  his  boyhood  was  at 
a  period  prior  to  the  time  when  the  law  made 
a  certain  amount  of  schooling  compulsory  ;  hence 


he  ac(iuire(l  almost  no  educational  training  in 
youth.  W'heu  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  entered 
the  government  service  and  acted  on  the  con¬ 
stabulary  force  of  Yorkshire  for  a  jieriod  of 
seven  years.  In  1875  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Jane,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lois  Wilson.  The 
ceremony  was  solemnized  in  Walkington,  Eng. 
The  only  child  born  to  this  couple  was  William 
1).,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  and  one-half 
years ;  his  little  grave  is  in  the  home-land  beyond 
the  sea,  but  the  memory  of  the  babe-life,  which 
these  parents  enjoyed  for  so  brief  a  time,  lingers 
in  their  hearts  with  as  beautifying  a  touch  as  the 
after-glow  cast  by  the  setting  sun  uiion  the  dark 
clouds.  Mr.  Coo])er  and  wife  came  to  Cham- 
jiaign  county  in  the  year  1880,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  Here  they  ])urcha.se(l  a  farm,  after  a 
two  year’s  sojourn  on  rented  jirojierty,  which 
farm  they  still  own. 

In  1885  Mr.  Cooper  moved  within  the 
bounds  of  Shelby  county,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  in  the  interests  of  the  Sided  Grain  and 
Elevator  company ;  his  present  residence  is  on 
West  Main  street,  Shelbyville.  From  his  office 
here  he  has  oversight  of  the  company’s  inter¬ 
ests  at  Clarksburg  and  Middlesw'orth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cooper  set  many  childless  homes  a  worthy 
example  in  formally  adopting  in  his  infancy  one 
who  is  now  named  Homer  Hunt  Cooper.  Homer 
could  not  have  been  reared  more  tenderly ;  his 
needs  are  all  anticipated  and  supplied.  He  is  a 
bright  boy  of  thirteen  years  who  is  now  in  his 
first  year  in  the  High  school.  In  March  of  1900, 
he  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  England  with  his 
parents  ;  many  excellent  photos,  which  denote 
skill  in  amateur  photography  are  now  treasured 
by  the  family;  these  are' the  product  of  Homer’s 
kodak.  We  learn  that  this  youth  has  the  fur¬ 
ther  promise  of  an  extended  trip  through  Euro])e 
when  he  shall  have  finished  his  course  in  school. 


268 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


In  the  visit  before  mentioned,  I\Ir.  and  iMrs. 
Cooper  were  permitted  to  see  his  mother  and  her 
(Mrs.  Cooper's)  father,  besides  numerous  other 
relatives  and  old-time  acquaintances.  The  en¬ 
tire  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church 
and  are  devoted  to  the  same.  Wherever  they 
have  lived  Mr.  Cooper  has  made  use  of  his  musi¬ 
cal  talent  by  singing  in  the  church  choir,  and  it 
is  of  rare  occurrence  for  him  to  miss  a  Lord’s  day 
service.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  IM. 
lodge,  and  in  politics  is  a  staunch  prohibition¬ 
ist  ;  he  became  naturalized  at  the  earliest  possi¬ 
ble  moment,  and  what  we  deem  far  better,  com¬ 
pletely  Americanized.  The  educational  dearth 
of  his  early  days,  has  been  in  part  repaired  by 
night  school  work  in  this  country  and  by  an 
insatiate  desire  to  learn.  At  present  we  find  him 
a  fairly  well-informed,  genial,  substantial,  re¬ 
spected  citizen  whom  we  account  it  a  i)leasure  to 
know. 

sK  *  *  * 

ALFRED  S.  WILLIAMS. 

Alfred  S.,  son  of  Paul  and  Lydia  (Miller) 
Williams,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia 
on  the  23rd  day  of  January,  1839.  He  suffered 
the  loss  of  his  father  at  an 'early  age,  and  thus 
became  largely  dependent  upon  bis  own  efforts. 
He  received  a  common  school  education  in  his 
native  city,  and  when  fourteen  years  of  age  went 
to  Carlisle  barracks  with  Captain  A.  Burford. 
He  thus  formed  a  taste  for  military  service 
which  a  few  years  later  gave  to  our  countrv  a 
valiant  defender.  At  the  time  the  war  broke  out 
be  was  again  in  Philadelphia,  but  he  went  to  the 
front  in  the  private  service  of  Colonel  Owens  of 
the  24th  Pa.  In  1863  Mr.  Williams  enlisted  in 
the  cause  of  his  country  and  helped  raise  a  regi¬ 
ment  :  of  this  regiment  he  was  orderly  sergeant. 


He  was  honoral)ly  mustered  out  of  service,  three 
years  and  two  months  later. 

In  the  year  of  his  enlistment  he  was  mar¬ 
ried  to  Miss  Mariah  Johnson  of  St.  Louis,  on  the 
16th  day  of  Alarch.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Kittie  and  Pinden  Johnson.  Three  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  all  of  whom  died  in  in¬ 
fancy.  Mr.  Williams,  after  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  was  subsequently  married  in  1869  to  Ellen 
J.  Johnson,  also  of  St.  Louis.  To  this  couple 
have  been  born  the  following  named  children  : 

Alfred,  Jr.,  born  1871.  deceased  in  1888: 
Thomas  Franklin,  born  1874:  James  Paul,  born 
1875;  Charles  U.,  born  1879,  deceased  in  1881; 
Keziah  dying  in  infancy. 

In  Aug.  1869,  ]Hr.  Williams  came  to  Illinois, 
and  began  barbering  at  Greenville.  Subsequently 
he  conducted  a  shoj)  for  himself  in  these  cities : 
Mason,  Murfreesboro,  Mattoou,  Windsor  and 
Sbelbyville ;  he  came  to  the  city  last  named  in 
1874. 

The  winter  in  which  he  came  here  he  was 
instrumental  in  founding  the  .A..  M.  E.  church, 
in  which  organization  he  has  ever  since  been  a 
steward,  trustee,  and  local  preacher.  In  poli¬ 
tics  he  has  ever  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  Mr. 
\\  illiams  has  a  first-class  place  of  business  on 
South  Morgan  street,  and  is  an  “A  Xo.  1"  ton- 
sorial  artist.  We  have  ever  found  him  to  be 
genial,  sociable,  and  obliging.  We  understand 
that  he  owns  a  large  collection  of  books  and 
keeps  bimself  well  posted  on  all  current  ques¬ 
tions  ;  he  is  respected  by  all. 

*  *  *  * 

DR.  GEORGE  S.  BOLT. 

Tbe  excellent  practitioner  whose  name 
heads  this  biographical  survey,  is  the  son  of  C.  L. 
and  Martha  (Paine)  Bolt.  He  was  born  in  Ram- 


269 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


sey,  Illinois,  in  the  year  1861.  It  way  he  that 
the  times  in  which  he  was  born  were  a  prophecy 
of  the  struggle  that  was  to  characterize  his  early 
life  and  educational  efforts.  His  father  was  .a 
fanner,  and  could  only  do  for  his  son  what  was 
common  to  the  rural  life  of  that  day ;  he  sent 
him  to  the  district  school.  The  ])rogress  in  such 
institutions  is  of  necessity  slow,  but  in  the  coun¬ 
try  schools  of  our  land  as  noble  aspirations  as 
ever  animated  a  human  breast  have  been  born, 
lly  hard  labor  and  frugality,  George  was  able 
to  enter  the  High  school  at  X'andalia  when  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  then  began  teach¬ 
ing  a  country  school,  and  thus  paved  his  way  to 
still  higher  achievements.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  matriculated  with  the  Missouri  Medical  col¬ 
lege,  in  St.  Louis ;  he  was  graduated  from  this 
institution  in  1883.  He  at  once  Iqcated  in  the 
village  of  Herrick,  this  county,  and  began  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  This  venture 
has  proven  so  satisfactory  to  the  doctor,  himself, 
and  to  his  constituency  that  he  has  never  seen  fit 
to  remove  to  other  fields.  Dr.  Holt  is  a  man  who 
keeps  abreast  of  the  times ;  he  s])ares  neither 
time  nor  means,  being  determined  to  be  able  to 
recognize  and  successfully  treat  all  forms  of  dis¬ 
eases.  He  has  taken  a  post-graduate  eourse  in 
the  Chicago  ( )pthalmic  college,  studying  the  eye, 
ear,  nose,  and  throat,  graduating  from  the  same 
in  1888.  Two  years  prior  to  this,  he  was  mar¬ 
ried  to  IMiss  Ella  Whittington.  This  couple  are 
the  parents  of  two  children  ;  One,  Bonner,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Welling,  now  four  years  of 
age.  The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  K.  of  P.,  Modern  Woodmen,  and  Court 
of  Honor  lodges.  He  has  also  been  Mayor  of  his 
village  for  several  terms.  He  is  the  owner  of 
considerable  valuable  land  and  stands  well  in  the 
financial,  professional,  and  social  circles  of  the 
entire  county.  His  present  excellent  standing  is 


a  living  example  of  the  achievements  of  manly 
effort,  frugality  and  thrift. 

*  *  *  * 

DR.  JOHN’  C.  WESTERVELT. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  son  of 
James  L.  and  Mary  (Connelly)  Westervelt, 
natives  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively. 
He  may  be  said  to  be  of  German-lrish  descent; 
his  birth-place  is  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  and 
the  day  of  his  birth  was  June  7th,  1855.  His 
early  life  was  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  and  in 
the  country  schools  of  his  native  district.  In 
early  young  manhood  he  spent  some  time  in  a 
High  school,  after  which  he  engaged  in  school 
teaching.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Bennett 
hjclectic  Medical  college  in  1877,  follow¬ 

ing  year,  from  the  Hahnamann  Medical  college. 
He  began  his  professional  practice  in  Shelbyville 
in  the  year  1878,  on  the  first  day  of  March. 

July  27th,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  H.  VVTbster. 
(Mr.  Webster’s  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume).  To  this  couple  have  been  born  three 
children:  Grace  L.,  born  Oct.  22nd,  1884,  and 
who  is  now  a  graduate  from  the  city  schools ; 
Leverett  C.,  born  March  loth,  1887,  now  a  pupil 
in  the  High  school ;  and  Floyd  C.,  born  .April 
iith,  1891. 

Besides  conducting  his  professional  business 
the  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Root  & 
Westervelt,  and  carries  on  a  large  traffic  in  hay, 
grain  and  coal.  He  is  a  member  of  various  fra¬ 
ternal  and  insurance  orders,  and  with  his  family, 
a  member  of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  organization  he  has  a  jdace  upon  the  of¬ 
ficial  board.  During  the  last  five  years  he  has 
been  chairman  of  the  Republican  Central  Com¬ 
mittee,  which  fact  is  a  sufficient  commentary  on 


270 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


the  doctor's  political  views.  He  was  in  '95  and 
’96  the  mayor  of  the  city  and  is  now  (April  1901) 
the  republican  nominee  for  the  same  office. 

Under  the  new  regime,  Doctor  W’estervelt 
is  President  of  the  Shelby  County  Fair  associa¬ 
tion,  and  with  his  capable  and  financially  able 
co-laborers,  is  sparing  no  pains  to  give  the  people 
of  this  region  genuine  recreation  of  an  elevating 
character  which  will  be  unexcelled  in  the  state 
of  Illinois. 

As  a  practitioner  the  doctor  stands  well ;  his 
practice  has  been  e.xtensive  and  satisfactory :  as 
a  citizen  his  standing  may  be  inferred  from  the 
positions  of  trust  he  has  been  selected  to  fill :  as  a 
social  factor,  himself  and  family  are  in  the  very 
front  rank.  W’e  can  only  add,  we  have  found 
him  a  courteous,  affable  gentleman,  with  a  large 
degree  of  public  spirit  and  interest. 

*  * 

T.  H.  GRAHAM. 

For  three  consecutive  terms  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  article  has  been  Circuit 
Clerk.  When  he  recently  vacated  his  i)osition 
to  give  place  to  the  present  incumbent  we  heard 
it  said,  “Xo  man  in  the  Shelby  County  Court 
House  ever  kept  his  books  more  neatly  or  cor¬ 
rectly.”  Mr.  Graham’s  popularity  and  place  in 
the  hearts  of  Shelby  voters  is  best  attested  by  his 
long  and  continuous  term  of  public  service.  His 
father,  Martillas  Graham,  was  born  just  above 
Terre  Haute,  on  the  25th  day  of  January,  1811  ; 
he  died  in  Shelbyville  in  1851.  He  conducted  a 
wool-carding  business.  The  mother  of  our  sub¬ 
ject  was  born  in  Pulaski  county,  Kentuckv,  on 
the  4th  of  December,  1813;  she  died  in  this  city, 
March  4th,  1900.  Her  maiden  name  was  Phan- 
anda  Williams. 

Mr.  Graham  has  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Sarah 


Patton,  of  ( )lympia,  Washington,  and  Mrs. 
Martha  Prown,  of  Shelbyville.  T.  H.  was  born 
on  the  twentieth  day  of  April.  A.  D.  1839,  in 
Coles  county,  about  twenty  miles  north  from  the 
city  last  mentioned.  He  came  here  with  his 
])arents  when  but  a  small  child  ;  and  here  he  re¬ 
ceived  his  education,  having  in  addition  to  the 
camimon  school,  training  in  the  "Old  .\cademv." 
In  1856 — '57  he  served  as  deputy  in  the  countv 
clerk's  office.  Three  years  later,  viz.,  in  the 
winter  of  ’59 — '60.  he  went  to  the  state  of  Kan¬ 
sas.  One  year  later  finds  him  in  the  Rockv 
Mountains,  and  one  year  Hter  still  he  is  back 
in  Kansas  where  he  enlists  in  the  12th  Kansas 
infantry  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  For  two 
years  and  ten  months  he  served  his  countrv  in 
her  defense. 

In  the  year  1866  he  was  Deputy  .\ssessor  of 
Douglas  county,  and  in  the  succeeding  year  he 
conducted  a  newspa])er  at  Leroy,  Kansas.  In 
the  fall  of  1868  he  returned  to  Shelbyville.  and 
has  since  remained  here.  For  two  years  of  this 
|)eriod  he  was  in  the  office  of  Attorney  General 
Hamlin,  and  for  three  years  he  served  as  Deputy 
County  Clerk.  Concerning  a  man  who  has  served 
through  a  ])eriod  of  fifteen  consecutive  years  in 
a  i)ublic  capacity,  and  whose  official  regime  has 
never  been  cpiestioned,  no  ecomium  from  our 
pen  can  add  to  his  ])raise.  It  may  be  true  and 
doubtless  is  that  the  ])opularity  of  T.  H.  Gra¬ 
ham  will  not  be  fully  known  until  his  familiar 
figure  is  missed  from  the  halls  of  Shelby  County 
Court  House. 

*  *  *  * 

WILLIAM  E.  M’CORMICK. 

The  ])resent  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  in 
this  county  is  the  gentleman  concerning  whom 
this  sketch  is  written.  His  father  and  mother. 


271 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


lidward  and  Jane  McCormick,  came  to  this 
country  from  Ireland,  wlien  William  H.  was  but 
three  years  of  age.  They  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Tower  Hill  township ;  the  father  died  in  the 
year  1892.  William  was  horn  April  ist,  1859, 
in  (lalway  county,  Ireland,  but  as  he  came  here 
at  so  early  an  age,  he  recalls  no  other  home, 
liis  boyhood  and  youth  were  such  as  is  common 
to  country-life.  After  becoming  somewhat  ad¬ 
vanced  in  his  studies,  he  entered  the  High  school 
at  Tower  Hill,  and  from  thence  he  entered  the 
Central  Xormal  college  at  Danvdle.  .-\fter  fitting 
himself  for  teaching,  Mr.  McCormick  taught  for 
a  period  of  eighteen  years  in  schools  of  this 
county ;  he  was  principal  for  three  years  both  in 
Tower  Hill  and  in  Windsor.  While  engaged  in 
teaching  a  district  school  in  his  home  township, 
he  for  several  years  conducted  a  farm.  In  A.  1). 
1884  he  was  married  to  Miss  Malinda  Milliken 
of  Pana :  eight  years  later  he  sufifered  the  loss  of 
this  early  helpmeet.  Miss  Emma'  15.  Shaw,  of 
Windsor,  became  his  wife  in  1894;  to  them  have 
been  born  two  children — Eulala  and  Eula  Mae. 
Mr.  McCormick  has  been  honored  by  being 
chosen  as  sui)ervisor,  town  clerk  and  assessor  in 
his  township.  He  has  ever  been  identified  with 
the  cause  of  democracy  and  while  firm  in  his 
tenacity  to  party  princi])les,  he  yet  holds  men 
above  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Eel- 
lows  and  Knights  of  Pythias  lodges,  and  with 
his  wife  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Mr.  McCormick  is  a  pleasant  gentle¬ 
man  to  meet,  and  one  who  seems  interested  in 
the  public  weal.  It  is  useless  for  us  to  pen  en¬ 
comiums  concerning  a  man  whose  almost  entire 
life  has  been  lived  within  one  single  county,  and 
who  has,  by  the  franchise  of  the  people,  been 
elevated  to  such  a  position  as  he  occupies  ;  this 
is  a  eulogy  in  itself.  Mr.  AIcCormick  is  the  onlv 
one  of  his  father's  children  now  living,  and  he. 


with  his  aged  mother,  (jwns  about  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Tower  Hill  township. 

*  ♦  ♦  * 

WARXER  H.  M.W'ZEV,  M.  1). 

In  Dr.  W.  H.  Manzey,  a  po])ular  physician 
of  Mode.  Shelby  county,  we  find  but  another 
striking  illustration  of  what  may  be  accom])lished 
by  inherent  strength  of  ])ur|)ose  and  indomitable 
will-])ower. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of 
Shelby  county,  having  been  born  in  (  )kaw  town¬ 
ship  on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1866.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Edna  (Dollins)  Manzey,  both 
born  in  Movies  county,  Kentucky.  My  close  aj)- 
l)lication  to  study  in  the  district  schools,  by  the 
time  he  was  seventeen  years  old  Mr.  Mauzey  was 
fitted  for  entrance  to  the  Mushnell  Musiness  col¬ 
lege,  where  he  took  a  good  business  course  of 
training. 

He  took  for  his  girl-wife  Miss  Ella 
Manks,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Cassandra 
Manks,  of  Findlay.  Three  children,  Eva,  Addie 
and  Millie,  have  been  born  to  bless  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mauzey.  Millie  is  a  beautiful  young 
girl  of  fourteen,  and  is  attending  the  graded 
school  at  Findlay.  In  1889  Mr.  Mauzey  sufYertd 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  was  a  woman  well 
known  and  much  admired  for  her  many  charm¬ 
ing  (jualities.  In  1893,  doctor  was  again 
married,  this  time  to  another  estimable  young 
lady  of  Findlay,  Miss  Cora  Cooken.  To  this 
second  union  has  been  born  one  child,  John,  in 
1899,  who  shares  with  the  three  girls  above  men¬ 
tioned,  the  tender  love  and  care  of  both  parents. 

After  his  first  marriage  iMr.  Mauzey  moved 
to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  until  after  the 
death  of  his  wife  and  his  subsequent  marriage. 
In  1895  he  entered  Louisville  Medical  college. 


272 


DR.  W.  H.  MAUZEY. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


and  was  graduated  therefrom  three  years  later. 
.After  his  graduation  lie  located  in  .Mode,  and 
during  his  first  months  of  practice  was  obliged 
to  walk  when  called  to  see  a  patient,  not  being 
financially  able  to  keep  a  horse.  Hut  he  early 
established  a  reputation  as  a  careful,  skillful  ijrac- 
titioner,  and  has  secured  an  enviable  practice, 
which  has  materially  changed  his  financial  con¬ 
dition.  Air.  Alauzey  is  a  pleasant  gentleman  to 
meet,  easily  makes  ac(|uaintances,  and  is  highly 
ai)preciatcd  by  his  many  warm  friends.  W’e  pro¬ 
phesy  for  him  added  success  in  his  profession, 
and  a  high  standing  in  the  medical  fraternity  of 
the  county. 

*  *  *  * 

WILLI.AAI  F.  F.AGEX. 

William  F.  Fagen  was  born  in  Shelbyville, 
Illinois,  April  24th,  1861.  His  i)arents,  Michael 
and  Margarettc  (Sherlock)  Fagen,  were  natives 
of  the  Emerald  Isle,  afterward  emigrating  to  this 
country. 

The  subject  of  our  review  attended  school 
in  Shelbyville  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age,  when  he  entered  the  ])rinting  office  of  the 
late  Dr.  E.  Waggoner,  then  editor  of  the  Shelby 
County  Democrat.  He  began  work  for  $1.50 
l)er  week,  but  by  close  application  to  the  tech¬ 
nicalities  of  the  "art  preservative,"  he  soon  ad¬ 
vanced  to  the  foremanship  of  the  office,  remain¬ 
ing  as  such  for  the  succeeding  eight  years.  In 
1887  he  went  to  Stewardson,  where  he  founded 
the  Stewardson  Clipper,  a  first-class  weekly 
newspaper.  For  a  year  he  was  in  ])artnership 
with  a  Mr.  Wilson,  but  purchased  his  interests 
at  the  end  of  that  time,  and  is  now  sole  ])roi)rietor 
and  publisher  of  the  ])aper,  which  has  an  ever- 
increasing  circulation.  His  newspaper  plant  is 
not  his  only  property  by  any  means,  as  he  has 


other  real  estate  in  Stewardson,  and  a  farm  in 
Prairie  township. 

In  1888  Mr.  Fagen  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Xewman,  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Margarette  Diddea,  of  Stewardson.  To 
them  has  been  born  one  child,  a  bright  little 
girl  now  a  few  years  of  age,  and  the  home  life 
of  the  family  is  ])leasant  and  haj^py. 

Mr.  Fagen  was  director  of  the  Huilding 
L(jan  association  of  Stewardson  for  a  number  of 
years:  is  a  member  of  Home  Forum  lodge:  and 
Chancellor  Commander  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth¬ 
ias  lodge,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  Mr. 
Fagen  is  another  illustration  of  what  can  be  ac¬ 
complished  by  men  who  have  no  financial  ])res- 
tige  with  which  to  start  iii  life,  but  who,  by 
])ersistent  effort  and  strict  integrity  win  for  them¬ 
selves  a  fair  measure  of  success  and  stand  well 
in  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  |)eople  with 
whom  they  associate. 

*  *  *  * 

CHARLES  M.  FLEMIXTL 

We  have  now  to  record  the  biography  of  one 
of  Shelby’s  foremost  educators,  a  man  born  and 
l)red  within  her  borders — Charles  M.  Fleming. 
He  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Holland  town¬ 
ship  December  9,  1859.  on  the  farm  which  is  now- 
designated  as  the  "Pen  Xorth  farm.”  His  par¬ 
ents  were  Samuel  \\A  and  Mary  Jane  (Fraker) 
Fleming.  His  first  school  days  were  spent  in  the 
East  Salem  district  schools,  where  he  laid  the 
foundation  for  the  si)lendid  education  which  he 
now  has,  and  which  qualifies  him  for  the  resimn- 
sible  position  which  he  occupies.  When  eight¬ 
een  years  of  age.  Mr.  Fleming  entered  the  Shel¬ 
byville  High  school,  where  he  pursued  his  stud¬ 
ies  for  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  he 
secured  a  school  at  Sandy  Hill,  Rose  township. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


and  entered  upon  the  profession  of  a  teacher. 
In  tins  township  he  taught  for  five  years,  giving 
eminent  satisfaction  to  tlie  pupils  and  patrons  of 
the  school.  In  1884  he  entered  the  State  Normal 
school,  at  Normal,  Ill.,  a])plied  himself  closely  to 
his  work,  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  ’8y. 
Returning  to  this  county  he  became  i)rincipal  of 
the  public  schools  at  Cowden ;  and  later,  was 
l)rincipal  of  schools  at  Moweacjua  and  Robin¬ 
son,  successively.  I'our  years  ago  he  was  se¬ 
cured  as  principal  of  the  schools  at  Stewardson, 
and  his  efficient  service  there  confirms  the  be¬ 
lief  that  in  employing  Mr.  Fleming  for  that  posi¬ 
tion.  the  Hoard  of  Education  made  no  mistake, 
lie  is  still  the  incumbent,  and  is  likely  to  s(j  re¬ 
main  for  some  time  to  come,  unless  by  his  (jwn 
action  he  severs  his  connection  with  the  school. 
It  way  also  he  recorded  that  in  his  effort  to 
place  himself  in  the  front  ranks  of  his  ])rofession 
he  has  left  no  honorable  means  untried  ;  and 
amongst  the  training  schools  he  attended  was 
the  Summer  School  at  Independence,  Kamsas, 
where  he  assiduously  applied  himself  to  the  ac- 
(purement  of  the  latest  and  best  principles  and 
methods  of  teaching.  His  merit  was  easily  recog¬ 
nizable,  and  while  at  the  State  Normal  he  taught 
the  pre])aratory  class  there  for  three  successive 
years. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  while  at  the  Nor¬ 
mal  Mr.  Fleming's  whole  attention  was  not  cen¬ 
tered  and  fixed  upon  his  hooks,  nor  yet  upon  the 
class  which  he  taught,  for  in  1885,  he  turned 
aside  from  these  for  a  time,  and  led  to  the  altar 
Miss  Anna  M.  Ruch,  of  Rose  township.  Miss 
Ruch  was  an  accomplished  young  lady — the 
daughter  of  John  and  Magdalene  (\'ulmer) 
Ruch.  Four  bright  and  promising  children  have 
been  born  to  bless  this  union,  and  have  been 
named  as  follows :  Roy  C..  Homer  R.,  Mary  J., 
and  Joseph  A.,  the  latter  being  called  back  to 


heaven  while  still  a  babe  of  eighteen  months. 
The  remaining  children  are  in  school,  and  bid 
fair  to  ap])ly  themselves  to  their  work  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  reflect  credit  on  their  teachers  and 
])arents. 

I’er.sonally  Mr.  Fleming  has  an  individuality 
all  his  own,  and  is  of  an  honest,  frank  disposi¬ 
tion,  meriting  and  easily  winning  the  complete 
confidence  of  those  who  know  him.  He  is  one 
of  those  men  whom  we  sometimes  term  “self- 
made."  having  started  in  life  with  very  little  of 
this  world's  goods,  but  working  his  way  toward 
the  to])  with  great  strength  of  ])ur])ose  and  ])er- 
sistency.  and  overcoming  the  obstacles  which 
would  have  been  to  many  men,  insurmountable. 

Mr.  h'leming  and  his  family  are  preemin¬ 
ently  ha])])}'  in  their  beautiful  home  life,  and 
move  in  a  circle  of  friends  and  accjuaintances 
who  prize  them  for  their  true  worth. 

It  is  with  pleasure  we  jiroduce  the  jjortrait 
of  Mr.  Fleming  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

*  *  *  * 

DR.  GEORHE  W.  MAL’ZEY. 

The  parentage  of  Dr.  George  W.  Mauzey, 
who  was  born  in  Moultrie  county,  this  state,  on 
the  19th  of  February.  1862,  is  identical  with  that 
of  his  brother.  Dr.  W.  H.  Mauzey,  whose  bio- 
graidiical  sketch  apjiears  on  another  page.  The 
grand-parents  came  to  this  state  from  N'irginia, 
and  their  ancestors  were  natives  of  France. 

The  first  education  Mr.  Mauzey  received 
was  in  the  district  schools,  but  he  afterward  at¬ 
tended  the  Shelby ville  High  school.  In  1879  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Hunter  &  Marshutz,  as 
clerk  in  their  shoe  store.  Five  years  later  he 
opened  a  mercantile  establishment  for  himself 
at  Findlay,  and  was  appointed  the  first  postmas¬ 
ter  of  that  town.  He  continued  his  business  in 


274 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


l-'indlay  until  1889.  when  he  tendered  liis  resigna¬ 
tion  as  postmaster,  sold  his  mercanitle  stock,  and 
entered  the  Louisville  Medical  college,  where  he 
spent  three  years  of  earnest  study,  and  was 
graduated  therefrom  in  1892.  The  following  year 
he  was  graduated  from  the  medical  department 
of  Central  University,  Kentucky,  where  he  had 
gone  for  a  year  of  study  along  the  line  of  his 
chosen  profession.  This  university  is  known  as 
the  Hospital  College  of  Medicine. 

On  July  1st,  1893,  Dr.  Mauzey  began  the 
practice  of  medicine,  locating  at  hindlay,  where 
nine  years  before  he  had  begun  his  mercantile 
business.  The  doctor  is  a  pleasant,  genial  man, 
and  by  his  careful  attention  to  his  professional 
duties  is  winning  for  himself  an  enviable  re])u- 
tation  as  a  physician. 

*  *  *  * 

GEOKC.L  \VAS111X('.T()X  \'ORlS. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the 
southern  ])art  of  Shelby  county  is  (icorge  \\  . 
\  oris,  of  whom  we  give  this  ])en-sketch.  He  was 
horn  on  the  eleventh  -of  Xovemher,  1850,  in 
Hath,  Summit  county.  ( )hio,  the  son  of  Peter 
and  Julia  (Coe)  X'oris,  both  of  whom  have  been 
dead  for  a  number  of  years. 

George  was  a  bright  lad,  and  made  excellent 
use  of  his  0])portunities  for  receiving  a  common 
school  education.  When  sixteen  years  of  age. 
he.  by  his  own  efforts,  was  enabled  to  enter  the 
\"alley  Seminary,  at  Fulton,  where  he  remained 
three  years  in  close  apjilication  to  study.  When 
he  was  but  seven  years  of  age,  his  parents  moved 
from  Ohio  to  Mattoon,  Illinois,  and  in  iMarch, 
1859,  George  left  the  home,  spending  the  sum¬ 
mer  with -an  elder  brother.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year,  he  with  his  brother  went  to  Taylor  countv. 


Iowa,  driving  across  the  country  with  a  wagon 
and  a  i)air  of  mules,  and  cam])ing.  hunting  and 
c(K)king  their  food  by  the  way.  It  was  during 
their  trip  that  the  trading  i)roclivities  of  the  hoy 
first  became  manifest,  in  that  he  performed  his 
part  in  the  trading  of  a  team  of  poor  mules  for 
a  pair  of  good  lujrses.  In  Lnva  he  remained  four 
years,  making  his  home  with  a  married  sister, 
and  employing  his  time  in  working  on  the  farm 
and  herding  cattle.  When  thirteen  years  old.  he 
removed  to  Knodaway  county.  Missouri,  where 
he  continued  farm  work  and  herding  until  1866. 
when  he  returned  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and 
worked  on  the  farm  of  a  Mr.  Crane  until  the  fall 
term  of  \  alley  Seminary  opened,  whereupon  he 
took  up  studies  there,  as  before  mentioned. 
'I'hree  years  later,  Mr.  X’oris  went  to  Xeoga, 
where  he  entered  a  grain  office  and  warehouse, 
remaining  there  only  until  the  following  spring, 
when  he  secured  employment  as  clerk  in  one  of 
the  general  stores  in  Windsor.  In  1874  he  went 
to  Stewardson,  where  he  still  resides.  His  first 
business  engagement  there  was  the  buying  and 
selling  of  hay,  grain  and  live  stock,  as  well  as 
afterward  sui5])lying  the  Clover  Leaf  R.  R.  with 
ties.  At  the  same  time  he  was  engaged  as  sta¬ 
tion  agent  for  the  Chicago  ^  Paducah  R.  R., 
iu)w  called  the  Wabash. 

Mr.  \'oris  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being 
the  first  settler  in  Stewardson,  his  office  being  the 
first  building  erected  in  the  town  ;  and  he  is  now 
one  of  the  foremost  of  the  enter]wising  and  pub¬ 
lic-spirited  citizens.  He  still  conducts  an  exten¬ 
sive  business  in  the  feeding  and  shipping  of  live 
stock,  and  is  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  land  ; 
and  the  fact  that  beginning  life  with  nothing,  and 
by  sheer  energy  and  ])ersistency  securing  for 
himself  the  comfortable  comi)etency  he  now 
enjoys,  proves  that  though  he  was  the  thirteenth 
child,  he  was  not  unlucky. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


In  1875  Mr.  \’oris  was  married  to  Miss 
vSopliia,  (laughter  of  William  and  Margaret 
1 ’Huger,  of  Stewardson.  To  them  have  been 
horn  seven  ehildren,  one  of  whom — Charles  I’oe 
— died  in  infancy.  'I'he  others  are:  Mabel  M., 
Ralph  E.,  Frank  R..  Letha  Maud.  Helen  and 
X'irginia;  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  X’oris  are  justly 
proud  of  these  bright,  intelligent  boys  and  girls. 

Mr.  Voris  enjoys  the  confidence  and  re- 
s])ect  of  his  townsmen,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact 
of  his  being  the  present  mayor  of  Stewardson. 
He  has  also  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  several 
vears,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Merchants'  Ex¬ 
change  of  St.  Louis.  He  is  of  a  si)eculative  dis- 
])osition  and  delights  in  trading.  He  is  a  po])u- 
lar  man,  and  one  of  his  marked  characteristics  is 
that  of  his  manifest  kindness  and  tenderness  to¬ 
ward  his  own  family.  .\  member  of  the  Masonic 
(jrder.  he  has  reached  a  high  degree  in  that  or¬ 
ganization  ;  and,  all  in  all,  Stewardson  may  well 
congratulate  itself  upon  having  such  a  citizen  as 
Ceorge  Washington  X’oris. 

*  *  ♦  * 

TOM  TROWER. 

The  name  Trower  is  familiar  throughout 
Shelby  county.  The  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Mr.  Wm.  .Addison  Trower,  was 
born  in  .Albemarle  Co.,  X’a.,  in  the  year  1833. 
His  father.  Dr.  J.  W..  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  his  mother,  Jane  W.  (Breedlove)  was  in¬ 
digenous  to  X’irginia.  The  family  root  on  the 
paternal  side  is  jirobably  of  Welsh  extraction. 
-Addison  came  with  his  parents  to  Charleston. 
Illinois,  in  1837,  and  to  Shelbyville  in  1847. 
received  his  only  educational  training  in  the  dis¬ 
trict  school.  His  early  labors  were  confined  to 
farming  and  clerking.  Mr.  Trower  has  been 


before  the  iieojile  in  a  public  manner  during 
much  of  his  long  residence  here.  Three  differ¬ 
ent  times  he  has  been  postmaster  of  the  city ; 
served  one  term  as  sheriff,  one  as  deputy  sheriff, 
and  one  as  coroner ;  he  was  master-in-chancery 
for  two  terms,  and  for  one  term  mayor  of  the 
city. 

In  1862  he  began  to  ])ublish  The  Shelby 
County  Leader,  and  a  little  later  became  the 
owner  of  the  same.  The  ownershij)  of  said 
])aper  did  not  ])ass  from  his  hands  until  18(44. 
Miss  Cordelia  Smith  became  his  wife  on  the 
30th  day  oi  ( Ictober,  1856.  They  are  the  par¬ 
ents  of  six  children,  the  following  four  lujw 
living:  .Mary  (Ballet),  now  a  resident  of  St. 
Louis:  X'irginia  (Ricketts),  ikjw  of  Charleston; 
Maude  (Walker)  wife  of  the  cashier  of  the  Shelby 
County  State  bank ;  and  Tom,  of  whom  we 
write. 

This,  the  only  living  son’,  a  ])0])ular  jeweler 
of  Shell))  ville,  was  born  in  this  city  in  .A.  1). 
1877.  In  addition  to  the  training  afforded  by 
the  city  schools  here,  he  attended  school  for 
one  year  in  Peoria.  For  one  year  he  worked  in 
Charleston,  Ill.,  and  two  years  since,  opened  a 
•jewelry  business  for  himself  in  Shelbyville.  Mr. 
Trower  has  a  large  stock  of  excellent  goods, 
and  the  window  (lis])lays  which  he  has  made  on 
special  and  holiday  occasions  we  have  never 
seen  excelled  outside  the  great  cities.  He  meets 
the  public  in  a  courteous,  affable  manner  and 
seems  anxious  to  give  customers  the  worth  of 
their  money.  X\  e  ])redict  for  him  an  increasing¬ 
ly  prosperous  future.  On  the  27th  day  of  No¬ 
vember  last,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Aliss  Hilda,  daughter  of  Dr.  Enos  Penwell. 
They  live  in  a  comfortable  cottage  on  North 
Morgan  street,  and  stand  well  in  the  social 
circles  of  the  city  of  their  nativity. 


276 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


MAUTZ. 

It  is  with  pleasure  we  attempt  the  writing-  of 
a  biographical  sketch  of  the  lives  of  the  two 
brothers  whose  name  is  found  at  the  head  of 
this  biography,  and  who  are  so  well  known  and 
universally  respected  in  social  and  commercial 
circles  of  the  southern  portion  of  our  county. 
The  parents  were  George  and  Rosina  (Shantz) 
Mautz,  born  in  W'urtemberg,  Germany,  in  1802 
and  1808.  respectively. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mautz.  with  their  familv. 
emigrated  to  .\merica  in  1852.  and  settled  at 
Zanesville,  ( )hio.  and  later  in  Fairfield  county, 
of  the  same  state,  and  which  has  furnished  to 
Shelby  many  of  her  citizens.  Xot  long  did  they 
remain  there,  but  came  to  this  county  in  1854. 
first  settling  on  rented  land  in  Rose  township, 
which  they  operated  for  .some  years.  They  after¬ 
ward  purchased  Section  32,  and  later,  half  of 
Section  31.  They  were  very  successful  in  their 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  as  the  children 
reached  maturity  they  were  aided  in  launching 
out  into  life  each  for  himself.  The  children 
born  to  this  couple  were  Gottleib,  Rosina,  Chris¬ 
tian,  George,  llarbara.  Lewis,  John  F..  William, 
Jacob  H..  David  and  Thomas,  the  latter  two  of 
whom  are  the  subjects  of  this  review.  The 
father  died  February  3,  1872.  and  the  mother 
followed  January  15.  i8yi.  They  were  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Swedenborgian  church,  and  were  of 
a  kindly,  generous  disjiosition,  with  a  sturdy 
Christian  faith  and  character,  which  secured  for 
them  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  those 
with  whom  they  came  in  contact. 

I)A\II). 

David  Mautz  was  born  in  the  \\  utemberg 
home.  January  8,  1845.  landing,  with  his  par¬ 
ents,  in  Xew  York  on  .April  i.  1852.  Trained 
and  nurtured  by  his  faithful  parents,  he  earlv 


developed  a  sturdy  character  and  an  adaptability 
for  business  pursuits.  His  school  da  vs  were 
spent  in  the  district  schools,  and  later  in  the 
(  )kaw  Seminary  in  Shelbyville.  .After  finishing 
his  training  at  the  I’niversity  of  Chicago,  he 
began  a  pubilc  career  by  teaching  school  for  two 
years,  in  his  home  district.  For  the  five  suc¬ 
ceeding  years,  he  served  as  a  clerk  in  the  Chi¬ 
cago  Savings  bank,  where  he  received  the  in¬ 
sight  into  matters  finacial  which  later  led  him 
into  his  present  vocation.  He  afterward  re¬ 
turned  to  the  farm  of  his  father,  where  he  re¬ 
mained  for  a  number  of  years. 

Xovendier  16,  1876,  Mr.  Mautz  was  mar¬ 
ried  to  Miss  Louise  F.  \\  eber,  who  also  was  a 
native  of  W’urtemberg,  having  been  born  there 
on  the  31st  of  March,  1852.  Lntil  December 
12.  1885.  Mrs.  Mautz  was  spared  to  her  hus¬ 
band — the  brightest  star  in  his  existence — but 
on  that  day  was  called  from  earth,  to  "that 
bourn  from  whence  no  traveler  returns."  The 
one  comfort  of  the  bereaved  husband  was  the 
babe.  Edward  J..  who  has  now  grown  to  a  noble 
voung  manhood,  and  is  the  ])ride  and  joy  of  his 
parent.  His  education  in  the  general  branches 
was  received  in  the  pubilc  schools  of  the  txninty 
and  from  the  State  University  at  Chamiiaign. 
In  1897  he  entered  the  law  deitartment  of  the 
Michigan  L'niversity  at  .Ann  .Arbor,  and  was 
graduated  therefrom  in  June,  1900.  During  the 
late  unpleasantness  with  Spain  Edward  enlisted 
in  Co.  G.  39th  Reg.  111.  \'ol..  and  got  as  far  as 
Tampa.  Fla.,  with  the  comjiany.  but  was  pre¬ 
vented  from  active  service  by  the  speedy  ter¬ 
mination  of  the  war.  He  is  now  in  Texas. 

In  1893  Mr.  Mautz  established  the  mone¬ 
tary  institution  known  as  "The  Stewardson 
Lank,"  which  is  a  great  financial  accommoda¬ 
tion  to  the  part  of  the  county  in  which  it  is 
located.  Mr.  Mautz  is  a  conservative,  success¬ 
ful  business  man — one  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to 


/  / 


.4 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


know,  and  whose  status  in  the  connnnnity  adds 
to  the  same. 

TH()M.\vS  P. 

Tlioinas  P.  Mantz,  also,  first  saw  the  light  of 
(lav  in  W’nrteniherg,  December  21,  i84c^,  and 
came  to  this  country  with  the  family.  His  basic 
education  was  received  in  the  schools  of  his 
boyhood  homes.  He  remained  in  his  fathers 
home  until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he 
learned  the  milling  trade,  working  at  Pana  and 
Rosemond.  After  spending  some  time  in  Ilain- 
hridge,  Indiana,  and  ( )conee.  111.,  he  came  to 
Stewardson  in  1874,  and  for  three  years  ojierated 
a  flouring  mill  in  that  ])lace,  afterward  forming 
a  partnershi])  with  11.  H.  York.  In  1878  Mr. 
Mautz  established  a  general  merchandise  store 
in  Shumway,  Ill.,  hut  the  following  year  removed 
it  to  Stewardson,  where  he  still  conducts  it. 

Mr.  Mantz  has  been  a  very  prominent 
figure  in  political  circles,  early  identifying  him¬ 
self  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  exerting  his 
influence  in  the  furthering  of  its  principles.  For 
thirteen  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of 
Supervisors,  and  was  chairman  of  the  same  fi^r 
six  years.  He  has  served  his  own  town  as 
mayor  for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  federal 
government  as  ])ostmaster  of  Stewardson  for  a 
term.  He  has  also  been  one  of  the  influential 
members  of  the  Ccuinty  Democratic  Central 
committee  for  ten  years. 

( )n  May  20,  Mr.  Mautz  was  married 

to  Miss  llertha  Karls,  a  daughter  of  John  Karls, 
of  Rural  township.  Her  birthplace  was  Locks- 
ville,  O.,  where  she  was  born  December  13. 
1858.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mautz  are  the  parents  of 
six  charmingly  dispositioned  children,  whose 
names  we  give  in  the  order  of  their  births : 
Xora,  Lillie,  Lottie,  Frank,  Karl  and  Manda, 


who  are  all  living,  and  are  the  jewels  which 
brighten  the  home  circle. 

Mr.  Mautz  is  a  member  of  the  same  church 
as  that  with  which  his  father  was  affiliated — the 
Swedenborgian.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  has  been  for  a  number 
of  years  Master  of  Sigel  L(jdge,  Xo.  541.  He 
and  his  family  are  valued  members  of  Steward- 
.son  society,  always  ready  to  aid  in  anything 
which  is  f(jr  the  public  welfare,  and  have  a  host 
of  friends. 

♦  *  *  * 

CHARLES  F.  FRIKSF. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the 
Piovince  of  Silkaroda,  Saxony,  Germany,  Aug. 
24,  1853.  His  parents  were  also  natives  (jf  that 
province,  the  father  being  born  in  i82(;,  and  the 
mother  in  1830. 

The  family  emigrated  from  Germany  to 
Cook  county,  Illinois,  and  from  there  removed 
to  Prairie  township  of  Shelby  county,  locating 
on  the  present  site  of  Stewardson.  Charles  re¬ 
mained  with  his  parents  u])on  the  farm,  apply¬ 
ing  himself  diligently  to  study  in  the  district 
schools  during  the  winters. 

When  twenty-three  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Friese  was  married  to  Miss  Christena  F.  Bauer, 
born  in  Hocking  county,  (Ihio,  July  6,  i860, 
the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherina  (Ulmer) 
Bauer.  To  this  couple  have  been  born  the  fol¬ 
lowing  named  children :  Henry  Frederick, 
Aug.  13,  1879;  John  August,  Dec.  5,  1880; 

Julia  Louise,  Dec.  15,  1883;  W’ilhelmina  Hen- 
riette,  Feb.  23,  1886;  Charles,  July  4,  1888; 
Jacob  F.,  Dec.  10,  1890;  Albert  W  ilhelm,  Jan. 
8,  1893;  Caroline  Elizabeth,  IMarch  3,  1895; 
Sophia  Maria.  X"ov.  26,  1896,  and  .Andrew  Mar¬ 
tin,  March  24.  189(9. 


278 


GEORGE  \V.  VORIS. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Mr.  Friese,  with  his  family,  is  liighly  re¬ 
spected  and  well-liked  where  known.  He  has 
lived  on  a  farm  all  his  hfe-time,  and  is  an  in¬ 
dustrious,  hard-working  man ;  and  has,  by 
honesty  in  all  business  transactions,  by  his  in¬ 
dustry  and  economy,  accumulated  a  competency 
for  himself  and  family,  besides  superintending 
the  farm,  he  owns  and  operates  a  cider  mill  and 
steam  hay  press. 

In  politics  Mr.  Friese  is  a  democrat,  and  has 
held  several  political  offices,  amongst  which  has 
been  that  of  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and 
he  is  at  present  Township  Collector,  a  position 
of  trust  well  merited. 

*  *  *  * 

\VILLI.\M  F.  HOLMES. 

.Another  name  which  is  well  fitted  to  oc¬ 
cupy  a  place  in  the  list  of  prominent  men  of 
Shelby  county,  is  that  of  Dr.  W’m.  F.  Holmes, 
of  Stewardson.  Born  to  poverty  and  obscurity, 
he  has  ever  had  almost  overwhelming  obstacles 
with  which  to  contend,  and  is  deserving  of 
much  credit  for  the  splendid  success  he  has 
achieved  in  life.  He  was  born  in  Eaton,  Ill., 
June  28,  1867,  the  son  of  Reuben  S.  and  Mary 
E.  ( Price)  Holmes,  who  both  died  when  Wil¬ 
liam  was  but  ten  years  of  age.  leaving  him  alone 
in  the  world,  to  make  his  own  way.  He  was 
"bound  out"  to  certain  parties  until  his  2ist 
year,  but  becoming  dissatisfied  he  left,  at  the 
age  of  twelve.  Erom  that  time  he  secured  em¬ 
ployment  at  anything  he  could,  during  the  sum¬ 
mers.  and  attended  the  district  schools  in  the 
winter.  By  close  application  to  his  studies  he 
was  fitted  to  enter  Union  Christian  college,  of 
Merom,  Indiana,  when  he  was  seventeen  years 
old.  The  determination  of  the  boy  to  receive 
an  education  can  readilv  be  seen  from  the  fact 


that  for  the  three  years  he  spent  in  this  college, 
he  paid  his  way  with  money  earned  by  hard  toil 
in  digging  coal  by  night,  while  he  studied  dur¬ 
ing  the  day.  .After  he  concluded  his  work  there, 
he  went  to  Eureka  college.  Eureka,  Ill.,  graduat¬ 
ing  therefrom  in  1899.  Coing  to  Chicago,  he 
engaged  with  McGregor  &  Company,  manufac¬ 
turers  of  jjortable  and  stationary  engines,  as 
bookkeei)er.  and  remained  with  them  one  year. 
In  i8i>3.  Mr.  Holmes  began  the  study  of  medi¬ 
cine,  and  one  year  later  entered  Rush  Medical 
college.  .After  his  graduation  in  1897.  which  he 
was  enabled  to  accomplish  by  persistent  and  un¬ 
ceasing  effort,  together  with  a  (juick  perception 
and  ready  mind,  he  practiced  medicine  for  nearly 
two  years  in  Chicago ;  also  lecturing  during  that 
time,  on  Histology,  at  the  \  on  Eeltman  Dental 
college.  In  .April  of  i8(/^.  Dr.  Holmes  removed 
to  Stewardson.  where  he  now  lives,  and  enjoys 
a  large  ])ractice. 

In  ( )ctober.  1899.  Mr.  Holmes  was  united  in 
marriage  to  one  of  Effingham’s  charming 
voung  maidens.  She  was  Miss  Delia  .Alice  Hub¬ 
bard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  are  genial,  cour¬ 
teous  people,  and  popular  members  of  Steward- 
son  society.  The  doctor  has  the  complete  con¬ 
fidence  of  the  community  in  his  profession,  as 
well  as  a  man  :  which  fact  is  attested  by  his 
growing  practice.  He  is  still  a  young  man.  but 
has  already  achieved  a  fair  measure  of  success, 
and  we  i)redict  for  him  a  bright  and  useful  future 
in  the  noble  work  of  his  humane  profession. 

*  +  *  * 

.ALBERT  L.  C.ARRUTHERS. 

The  subject  of  this  review.  .Albert  L.  Car- 
ruthers,  was  born  on  the  9th  day  of  May,  1848. 
on  a  farm  in  the  township  of  W  ashington.  county 
of  Tuscarawas,  ( )hio.  He  was  one  of  ten  chil- 


279 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


(Iren  horn  to  Uriah  and  Rel)ecca  (Dening)  Car- 
ruthers,  natives  of  X'irginia  and  Ohio,  resi)ect- 
ively,  tlie  father  being  of  Scotch  descent.  The 
names  of  tlie  children  we  append,  as  follows: 
(leorge  X.,  Robert,  Lemnel  A.,  who  died  in  the 
army;  John,  Julia,  now  deceased;  William  A., 
Martha  K.,  Albert  L.,  Charles,  and  Mary  K. 
( )f  these,  seven  have  been  school  teachers,  five 
were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  and  eight  arc  still 
living,  four  in  ( )hio  and  four  in  Illinois. 

.\lbert  L.  received  his  education  in  the  dis¬ 
trict  school  of  his  ( )hio  home,  and  began  teach¬ 
ing  in  1870,  in  the  township  in  which  he  now 
lives.  He  was  called  honie,  however,  by  the 
serious  illness  of  his  father  and  a  brother,  before 
the  expiration  of  the  first  term  of  school. 

In  1871,  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Lakin,  daughter 
of  William  and  Euessa  (I’acker)  Lakin,  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Carruthers,  and  they  began  their 
wedded  life  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father, 
where  thev  remained  until  1884.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  bless  this  union,  the  names  of 
whom  are  as  hallows:  Annie  1’.,  beam  in  1871  ; 
Charles  L.,  October.  1874;  Bertha  L.,  Xovem- 
ber,-  1881.  and  Ralph  B.,  IMay,  1885.  The  first 
three  of  these  were  bom  in  the  Ohio  home,  and 
the  last  in  Ash  Grove  township,  of  this  county. 
.\nnie  is  married  to  John  \’eech,  and  resides  on 
a  farm  in-  Ash  Grove :  Charles  married  Bertha 
Crockett,  and  lives  in  Big  Spring  townshij). 

Seventeen  years  ago  Mr.  Carruthers  removed 
from  Ohio  to  Illinois,  settling  can  an  Ash  Greave 
farm  owned  by  his  brother,  John.  The  follow¬ 
ing  spring  he  moved  onto  the  farm  of  one  hun¬ 
dred  acres  now  owned  by  him.  on  Section  26. 

Mr.  Carruthers  is  a  prominent  man  in  his 
comnaunity,  and  as  superintendent  of  the  County 
Sunday  School  association,  is  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county.  The  entire  fam¬ 
ily  are  naembers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


church,  Mr.  Carruthers  uniting  with  the  sanae 
thirtv  vears  ag(a.  and  his  wife  when  she  was  but 
ten  vears  of  age.  He  has  always  been  fond  of 
Sunday  school  work,  and  has  held  every  posi¬ 
tion  (af  a  Sunday  schcaol  worker  in  the  local 
school  in  the  township  and  in  the  county.  He 
is  at  present  on  his  fourth  year  as  superintend¬ 
ent,  and  is  one  of  the  naost  untiring  and  zealous 
workers  the  association  has  ever  had.  Eroiaa  the 
rejaort  of  the  23d  convention  of  the  associatioia, 
held  in  .\ugust  of  this  year,  we  find  that  Mr. 
Carruthers  has  attended  five  state  conventions 
and  fourteen  county  conveiations  in  Shelby  and 
adjoiniiag  counties. 

Mr.  Carruthers  is  present  school  director  of 
his  district,  is  a  stockh(alder  in  the  Xecaga 
creanaery  and  is  oiae  of  its  board  of  directors. 
He  is  a  naenaber  of  the  Court  of  Hoiaor,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  Chancellor  of  the  sanae  since 
its  organizati(an.  He  is  one  of  the  naost  pnanai- 
neiat  and  infinential  naembers  of  the  church 
to  which  he  belongs.  He  now  h(jlds  the  position 
of  steward  and  trustee,  and  has  been  class  leader 
f<ar  fifteen  consecutive  years,  and  recording 
steward  for  the  jaast  six  years.  During  these  six 
years  he  has  missed  but  two  naeetings  of  the 
(piarterly  confereiace.  \  his  all  goes  to  show  the 
esteem  and  confidence  in  which  Mr.  Carruthers 
is  held  by  those  who  know  hina  as  a  thoroughlv 
u])right,  Christiaia  gentlenaan.  .\iad,  indeed,  his 
entire  fanaily  share  with  hina  the  respect  of  a 
host  of  friends  and  acciuaintances. 

*  *  *  * 

.MRS.  AMAXDA  E.  DUXLAP. 

Mrs.  .\naanda  Dunlap,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio. 
October  the  8th,  1835.  She  was  the  daughter  caf 
Salmon  and  Xancy  ( Barr)  Grover.  At  the  death 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


of  her  mother,  when  Amanda  was  but  four  or 
five  years  old.  she  was  put  out  to  board  and 
attend  school.  From  childhood  until  she  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  she  remained  in  the  home 
of  a  IMr.  Miller.  Then  in  the  fall  of  1855  she 
came  by  stage  to  Caswell  county,  at  the  recjuest 
of  a  friend,  a  physician,  in  whose  family  she  re¬ 
mained  during  the  winter,  coming  to  Shelby- 
ville  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year.  Soon 
after  this  she  entered  the  Shelby  Academy, 
where  she  continued  for  three  terms,  afterward 
teaching  for  one  term. 

On  the  thirtieth  day  of  December,  1861. 
Miss  Grover  was  joined  in  marriage  to  James  S. 
Dunlap,  a  farmer  living  near  Shelby ville.  Ue- 
fore  marriage  Mr.  Dunla])  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  54th  Illinois  \'olunteers,  and  in  1864  he  died 
in  St.  Louis,  from  a  disease  contracted  during 
service.  Mrs.  Dunlap  did  not  see  her  husband 
but  a  few  times  after  he  marched  away  soon  after 
his  marriage.  One  child  was  born  to  this  couple, 
a  boy  who  died  in  his  fourteenth  year. 

Mrs.  Dunlap  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church  since  she  was  twenty  years  of 
age,  and  is  ever  faithful  in  her  attendance  on  di¬ 
vine  worship ;  her  parents  were  Christians  and 
she  was  converted  at  twelve  years  of  age. 
She  is  a  kindly  disposed  person,  and  wishes  it 
said  that  if  her  life  has  not  always  seemed  what 
it  should  have  been,  it  has  been  caused  by  her 
troubles,  of  which  she  has  had  an  unusual  num¬ 
ber  throughout  her  life.  For  a  long  time  she 
struggled  to  own  a  home  which  she  finally 
possessed  on  North  Morgan  street.  This, 
through  ill  health,  she  subsequently  lost;  it  has 
been  her  further  misfortune  to  be  separated  from 
aO  her  dear  ones  at  the  time  of  their  deaths.  In 
connection  with  a  wish  of  Mrs.  Dunlap’s  we 
might  aptly  cpiote  from  Miss  Havergal's  match¬ 
less  poem,  “Compensation 


"W  e  gaze  on  the  path  of  another  as  a  far-off 
mountain  scene. 

Scanning  the  outlined  hills,  but  never  the  vales 
between  ; 

How  can  we  judge  another?  we  who  can  never 
know 

From  the  juttings  above  the  surface,  the  depth  of 
the  vein  below." 

*  *  *  * 

WILLI. \M  II.  WOOLARD. 

Dr.  William  II.  W  Oolard  was  born  in 
Leesburg,  Ohio,  .\.  D.,  1838.  His  parents  were 
Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Hiattc)  W'oolard.  Their 
ancestry  was  doubtless  of  English  origin,  but 
they  were  natives  of  the  lUickeye  state.  Mr. 
W'oolard  was  by  trade  a  master  mechanic,  and 
judging  by  the  distinguishing  characteristics  of 
his  son.  W  illiam,  these  may  best  be  accounted 
for  by  the  mysterious  laws  of  heredity.  Just  to 
what  extent  one's  life  may  be  influenced  by  the 
loss  of  ])aternal  care  is  a  problem  beyond  reach 
of  human  "ken."  but  that  such  a  loss  can  do  no 
other  than  greatly  affect  the  life  of  any  child  is 
a  fact  too  obvious  to  admit  an  argument.  That 
the  early  loss  of  his  father  may  have  developed 
great  resourcefulness  and  independence  in  the 
life  and  temperament  of  Dr.  W’oolard  is  true,  thus 
])roving  a  blessing  to  his  boyhood  days;  but. 
that  a  life,  thus  left  to  its  own  struggles,  might 
have  become  still  more  marked  and  useful,  under 
the  restraining  hand  and  fostering,  care  of  a 
father,  is  equally  probable. 

The  education  of  the  one  whose  life  sketch 
we  now  pen,  was  received  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  town.  His  first  e.xperience  in  the 
industrial  world  was  in  a  tool-shop  near  his  home 
village.  It  may  fairly  be  stated  the  constant  com- 
])anions  of  his  entire  life  have  been  books  and 
tools.  So  fond  is  he  of  books  that  one  would 
think  he  could  never  turn  his  hand  to  a  practical 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


tliiiifj — a  l)0()k-\vonii  sliouUl  he  his  name — hut  so 
fond  is  he  of  meclianical  pursuits  and  inventive 
l)laus,  that  when  thus  eu"aged,  one  would  never 
sus])ect  his  scholastic  tendencies  and  attain¬ 
ments. 

-After  leaving  ( )hio,  J)r.  W’oolard  first 
located,  for  a  ])eriod  of  about  two  years,  in  In¬ 
diana,  where  he  worked  as  a  jeweler.  He  came 
to  this  county  in  the  year  1H56,  driving  through 
from  his  Indiana  home.  He  was  accomi)anied 
on  this  drive  hy  his  mother,  and  they  together 
settled  in  Ilig  Spring  township.  In  the  year 
i860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Melinda  Curry, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Curry.  The  mar¬ 
riage  ceremony  was  iierformed  in  the  court 
house  in  the  city  of  Shelhyville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W'oolard  are  the  parents  of 
three  children — Jennie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Ceorge  l)e  Long,  a  foreman  in  the  Wahash  car 
shoiis  at  Decatur,  Illinois;  J.  Henry,  who  was 
until  his  death  this  jiresent  fall  (kjoo)  a  foreman 
in  the  stereotyjiing  department  of  a  Chicago 
puhlishing  house,  and  who  leaves  a  wife  (for¬ 
merly  Miss  May  Warden  of  Windsor)  and  two 
children  ;  and  Alary  Annis,  whose  death  occur¬ 
red  in  1867,  when  she  was  hut  six  and  one-half 
years  of  age. 

.After  his  marriage.  Mr.  Woolard  settled  in 
Ash  drove  townshi]),  and  for  several  years  en¬ 
gaged  in  the  jeweler's  husiness.  In  Xovemher, 
1865,  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Windsor  where 
he  has  since  resided.  During  the  period  of  the 
Civil  war,  Air.  Woolard  studied  medicine,  hut 
was  discouraged  from  its  practice  hy  local  condi¬ 
tions,  chief  among  which  was  the  then  almost 
impassihle  condition  of  the  country  roads.  In 
the  year  1870,  Dr.  Wool.^rd  purchased  the  dental 
husiness  of  W.  H.  Waite,  and  has  ever  since  con¬ 
ducted  the  same.  The  fact  that  the  doctor  is  al- 
wavs  busy  is  a  sufficient  commentary  on  the  kind 


of  work  he  turns  out.  His  mechanical  genius 
has  found  a  considerable  scope  for  employment 
in  his  dentistry.  Some  valuable  i)lans  for  brac¬ 
ing  and  supi)orting  ])late  and  bridge  work  are 
original  with  him. 

During  his  life,  he  has  found  time  t(j  perfect 
and  complete  several  valuable  i)atents.  The  most 
of  these  are  applied  to  the  milling  industry ;  hut 
one  of  them,  a  steam  dishwasher  is  of  an  entirely 
different  nature  and  of  such  im])ortance  that  Air. 
Woolard  received  honorable  mention  from  the 
World's  Fair  committee,  l-'rom  his  youth  up, 
he  has  been  the  adviser  of  those  engaged  in  me¬ 
chanical  and  inventive  ])ursnits. 

His  religious  impressions  were  received 
largely  from  the  (Juakers.  He  believes  in  deeds 
rather  than  creeds.  In  ])ohtics  he  has  been  a 
life-long  democrat,  but,  on  (piestions  of  local 
importance,  has  ever  voted  against  the  saloon, 
regardless  of  party.  Air.  Woolard  has  never 
cared  for  a  public  office  and  has  discouraged 
every  offer  of  one. 

His  life  is  a  (juiet,  unostentatious  one,  but 
the  peo])le  of  Windsor  townshi])  recognize  in  it 
one  of  sterling  (pialities  and  genuine  ability. 

HOX.  D.WH)  P.  KELLER. 

David  P.  Keller,  of  Aloweacpia,  was  born 
near  Lancaster,  Ohio,  July  loth,  1834.  He  is 
clearly  of  Herman  extraction,  the  ancestry  on 
both  sides  having  come  from  the  Kaiser's  realm. 
His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Susan  ( Ruffner) 
Keller.  The  father  was  born  in  A’ork  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1797;  he  went  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents  in  1802  and  settled  in  what  was 
then  the  great  wilderness  of  the  northwest. 
Strangely,  he  never  removed  from  the  place 


282 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


where  their  first  cabin  was  built,  and  died  there 
in  the  ninetietli  year  of  his  life.  It  was  into  this 
frontier-home  that  David  and  ten  other  children 
were  born.  Only  four  of  the  family  still  live; 
our  subject  and  three  of  his  sisters.  The  mother 
was  a  native  of  Shenandoah  county,  X’irginia; 
she  was  born  in  the  year  1800,  and  in  1806  was 
taken  by  her  parents  into  Ohio.  She  lived  and 
died  the  faithful,  hard-working,  old-time  mother. 
In  addition  to  the  meagre  training  furnished  by 
the  district  school  of  that  early  day,  David  spent 
two  3-ears  in  the  Otterbein  University  at  Wester¬ 
ville,  Ohio.  Here  he  accpiired  much  of  the 
useful  knowledge  which  has  marked  its  ai)proval 
upon  his  subseciuent  life.  For  a  period  of  five 
years  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  which  fur¬ 
ther  increased  his  mental  calibre  and  developed 
self-reliant  manhood.  On  the  20th  day  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  1859,  he  wedded  Miss  Rebecca  McFar¬ 
land,  a  resident  of  his  own  locality.  For  about 
five  years  they  engaged  in  farming  in  (')hio,  and 
in  Xovember,  1864,  moved  to  Shelby  county.  Illi¬ 
nois.  Five  children,  all  living,  have  blessed  their 
union  :  Cirace.  now  Mrs.  C.  A.  Might,  of  Dalton 
City  :  Mr.  Might  is  engaged  in  banking  and  grain 
business  with  Mr.  Keller :  Walter  S..  a  resident 
of  Des  Moines.  la.,  is  engaged  in  the  handling 
of  farm  implements.  Me  took  for  a  wife  Miss 
Josie  Freeland;  Addie  (Mrs.  Marry  Rartlettl,  of 
Milwaukee.  Wis.,  whose  husband  works  in  the 
rolling  mills;  Augustus  R.,  who  took  for  a  wife 
Miss  Sadie  Warren,  and  who  resides  on  a  farm 
of  his  own  near  Macon  ;  and  Julia,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  George  Doughty,  of  Moweaqua. 

In  February  of  1869,  i\Ir.  Keller  moved  into 
Macon  county,  on  a  farm  where  for  a  period  of 
twenty-si.x  years  he  prospered  as  a  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  a  part  of  this  farm  he  still  owns. 
In  this  manner  he  became  a  well-known  man  in 
two  counties,  and  it  is  probable  that  few  men 


have  such  a  wide  local  acquaintanceship.  In 
1892  Mr.  Keller  made  his  first  banking  venture, 
when  he  became  associated  with  his  son-in-law 
in  said  business  in  Dalton  City  before  mentioned. 
Subseciuently  they  added  the  buying  of  grain  to 
their  enterprise  and  now  manage  two  large  ele¬ 
vators.  Mr.  Keller  moved  to  Moweacpia  in 
March.  1895.  Prior  to  his  coming,  and  one  vear 
after  his  banking  ])roject  at  Dalton,  he  formed  a 
])artnershii)  for  a  like  concern  to  ojierate  in  Mo- 
weacjua.  The  other  members  of  the  firm  were 
W.  C.  Miller  and  I.  W.  Frown. 

.\fter  two  years  Mr.  ^Miller  retired  from  the 
partnership  and  the  business  was  then  conducted 
by  the  remaining  two.  After  a  time  Mr.  Ralph 
.Avars  Iiecamc  associated  as  a  partner;  and,  still 
later,  earlv  in  1900,  Mr.  Frown  drop])ed  out,  and 
then  the  institution  conducted  its  operations 
under  the  name  of  Keller,  .Avars  &  Co.  ( )n 
.\])ril  1st.  of  the  present  year.  (1901)  Mr.  .Avars 
letired  from  the  concern  and  the  banking  Inisi- 
ness  is  now  conducted  under  the  proprietorship 
and  ownershi])  of  Air.  Keller  and  wife.  Air. 
Keller  has  incidentally,  for  more  than  thirty 
-  years,  acted  in  the  capacity  of  an  auctioneer. 
Me  has  doubtless  conducted  more  than  five  hun¬ 
dred  sales.  In  ]iolitics  he  is  a  staunch  rejiubli- 
can.  During  his  residence  in  Alacon  county  he 
was  a  continual  office-holder.  Me  has  filled  all 
the  townshi])  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  and 
twice  by  the  suffrages  of  his  friends  and  fellow- 
citizens  was  he  elevated  to  the  place  of  member 
of  the  Assembly.  Me  served  his  constituency 
to  their  satisfaction  in  the  36th  and  37th  (^icneral 
Assemblies  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  Air.  Keller 
and  his  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Aletho- 
dist  Episcopal  church.  The  manliness  and  in¬ 
tegrity  of  our  subject  we  have  never  heard  ques¬ 
tioned.  Me  is  a  pleasant,  versatile,  courteous 


28 


0 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


gentleman  with  wlioin  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet. 
His  life  ami  character  may  well  offer  a  field  for 
emulation. 

*  *  *  * 

WALTER  H.  S1L\  ER. 

The  gentleman  concerning  whom  this 
sketch  is  written  is  the  present  mayor  of  Shelhy- 
ville.  Jn  the  capacity  of  city  clerk,  he  served 
this  municipality  for  ten  years.  He  has  also 
served  upon  the  board  of  su[)ervisors ;  which 
facts  testify,  that  in  the  eyes  of  the  public,  he  is 
a  man  of  merit  and  fitness  for  positions  of  re¬ 
sponsibility  and  trust.  He  was  born  in  Casst)po- 
lis,  Michigan,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1857.  His 
father,  Jedediah  H.,  was  a  native  of  New  Hamp¬ 
shire,  and  his  mother,  Julia  (Mead)  Silver,  was 
indigenous  of  New  York.  These  parents  of  our 
subject  came  to  Michigan  at  an  early  day,  while 
they  were  children.  In  March  of  1858  they  came 
to  Shelby ville,  Illinois.  IMr.  Silver  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason  by  trade,  but  after  coming  here, 
he  began  farming  in  Ridge  townshij).  For  two 
terms  he  served  as  sheriff  of  the  county. 

Walter  was  reared  upon  the  farm  and  re¬ 
ceived  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  county.  When  18  years  of  age,  he  began 
clerking  here  in  the  city.  October  19th,  1882, 
he  was  wedded  to  Miss  May  Jolly,  of  Shelbyville  : 
the  names  of  her  parents  being  John  S.  and 
Catherine  (\  ickers)  Jolly.  Three  children  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage — Catherine,  Gleun 
and  \'erne.  The  children  are  all  attending  the 
citv  schools.  Mr.  Silver  conducted  a  grocery 
business  for  himself  for  a  period  of  three  years, 
in  the  room  now  occupied  by  the  Herron  Rros. 
He  sold  his  stock  of  groceries,  and  purchased 
the  stock  of  dry  goods  owned  by  Wm.  Wright. 
After  continuing  in  this  enterprise  for  a  brief 


time,  he  sold  out  this  stock,  and  went  west.  Xot 
finding  a  business  opening  to  suit  his  inclinations 
at  the  time,  Mr.  Silver  returned  from  the  west 
and  worked  in  a  brick-yard  for  a  period  of  two 
years.  He  then  became  manager  for  the  poultry 
firm  of  .\rthur  Jordan  &  Co.  From  this  engage¬ 
ment  he  acce])ted  a  ])osition  with  the  First 
National  bank,  with  which  institution  he  con¬ 
tinued  for  a  period  of  four  years.  .\t  the  end 
of  this  time  he  re-entered  the  emidoy  of  the  Jor¬ 
dan  company,  and  still  has  charge  of  their  busi¬ 
ness.  During  the  past  fall  and  winter  the 
amount  of  shi])])ing  done  from  this  branch  estab¬ 
lishment  has  been  enormous.  Mr.  Silver  has 
ever  been  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  is  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  K.  of  1’.,  Redmen,  Woodmen,  and  S.  * 
M.  R.  .\.  fraternal  and  insurance  orders.  We 
have  found  Mr.  Silver  to  be  a  pleasant  and  cour¬ 
teous  gentleman, and  the  ])Ositions  of  trust  he  has 
held  in  the  city,  speak  more  elociuently  in  his 
favor  than  any  encomiums  from  our  pen.  The 
father,  whose  name  has  been  so  favorably  known 
throughout  the  county,  is  suft'ering  under  the 
withering  touch  of  ])aralysis.  In  his  enfeebled 
decline,  he  is  being  tenderly  cared  for  by  his 
sons. 

*  *  *  * 

GEORGE  HTLER. 

Though  not  a  resident  of  Richland  town¬ 
ship  for  very  many  years,  Mr.  George  T.  Hiler, 
of  whom  we  write  has  become  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  substantial  farmers  of  his  neigh¬ 
borhood  and  township,  and  it  is  with  pleasure 
that  we  write  his  name  in  this  cha])ter  on 
“Prominent  IMen.” 

Mr.  Hiler  was  born  in  Park  county,  Indiana, 
February,  19,  i860.  His  father,  a  native  of  \’ir- 
ginia,  was  Jacob  Hiler.  while  the  maiden  name  of 


284 


II.  M.  Sr.AKr.OKOUC.H.  D.WIl)  KICH.XKDSON. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


his  mother,  a  native  of  Indiana,  was  Jane  Kihljy. 
Mrs.  Hiler  died  when  George  was  hut  two  years 
of  age,  and  the  death  of  his  father  followed  ten 
years  later.  Being  left  alone  in  the  world  at  this 
tender  age,  and  with  but  little  inherited  sub¬ 
stance,  he  was  practically  reared  by  a  half-sister, 
now  Mrs.  Minerva  Warrens.  A  common  dis¬ 
trict  school  was  the  only  one  George  attended, 
but  such  good  use  did  he  make  of  his  opportuni¬ 
ties  that  he  acquired  an  education  therefrom,  a 
little  above  the  ordinarv. 

In  September,  1874,  he  came  with  the  sister 
above  referred  to,  to  Champaign  county,  Illinois, 
and  afterward  entered  the  employ  of  a  farmer  in 
the  county,  thus  commencing  his  agricultural 
career,  by  working  by  the  month  for  a  i)eriod  of 
five  years. 

The  crowning  event  of  Mr.  Hiler’s  life  came 
to  him  in  1884.  when,  on  the  28th  day  of  Febru¬ 
ary,  he  led  as  a  blushing  bride  to  the  altar.  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Griffith,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Mar¬ 
garet  (Dollar)  Griffith,  natives  of  Indiana,  and 
Coles  county.  Illinois,  respectivelv.  Miss 
Griffith  was  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  intel¬ 
lectual  young  women  of  her  neighborhoo<l.  and 
George  was  voted  a  fortunate  young  man  by 
the  other  young  gallants  of  their  ac(|uaintance. 
Mrs.  Hiler  has  preserved  to  the  present  time,  her 
charm  of  manner  and  disposition,  and  is  a  bright, 
vivacious  woman  who  makes  the  home  ])leasant 
and  happy  for  the  family,  as  well  as  for  the 
"sometime"  guest. 

Five  children,  who  are  the  pride  of  the 
l)arents,  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiler. 
Their  names  are  as  follows :  ^\’alter  R.,  Lillie 
^I..  both  born  in  Champaign  county:  Robert  E., 
Estella  E.,  and  Georgia  M.,  born  in  their  Shelby 
county  home. 

After  their  marrige  ]Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiler 
began  housekeeping  on  a  rented  farm  in  Cham- 


])aign  county,  where  they  remained  two  years, 
and  then  bought  a  farm  in  Raymond  township 
of  the  same  county.  ( )n  this  farm  they  remained 
si.x  years,  then  coming  to  .\sh  Grove  townshij) 
of  this  county,  and  buying  a  farm,  which  they 
sold  the  same  year.  From  thence  they  removed 
to  Findlay,  where  they  ])uVchased  a  farm,  but 
within  a  year’s  time  sold  it  again.  It  was  then 
they  bought  the  farm  upon  which  they  now  re¬ 
side.  16 1  acres  in  Section  7,  of  Richland  town¬ 
ship.  and  which  they  have  found  to  be  quite  a 
satisfactory  investment.  The  farm  is  all  well- 
improved,  drained  and  tiled,  and  the  soil  is  verv 
fertile,  and  under  the  skillful  supervision  of  Mr. 
Hiler.  is  very  productive.  I'rom  it  Mr.  Hiler 
.sold  about  $2,400  worth  of  produce  in  1899. 

Mr.  Hiler  has  served  his  neighborhood  as 
school  director,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
W  oodmen  of  America.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
honored  and  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  are  both  beloved  for  their 
hospitality  and  courteous  geniality. 

*  *  *  ♦ 

1)A\  11)  F.  RICHARDSON’. 

David  F.  Richardson  was  born  at  Grove- 
l)ort,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1838.  His  father.  Marcus 
C..  was  a  native  of  X’irginia,  and  his  mother. 
Jane  ( Ramsey),  a  native  of  ( )hio.  Their  ancestry 
was  of  English  stock,  some  of  whom  came  to  this 
country  in  its  early  days.  Mr.  Richardson.  Sr., 
was  a  farmer  by  occu|)ation.  and  emigrated  from 
his  Ohio  home  stopping  several  times  on  the 
way  and  arriving  in  Shelby  county  in  the  great 
westward  movement  of  1849.  After  settling  here 
he  became  favorably  known  to  all.  and  was  twice 
honored  by  being  chosen  sheriff  of  the  county. 

David  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  and  re¬ 
ceived  his  education  in  the  countrv  schools. 


BIOGRAPHIliS. 


When  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  aj^e,  lie  left 
home  and  hejjan  elcrking-  in  a  store  at  Mattoon  ; 
after  a  few  months,  however,  he  returned  to 
farming,  in  whieh  oeciqiation  he  eontinued  until 
1861,  when  he  volunteered  in  Co.  11.  of  the  7th 
Illinois  eavalry.  While  in  the  serviee,  he  jiarti- 
ei])ated  in  the  battles  of  Xew  Madrid,  Corinth, 
I'armington,  ^liss.,  and  numerous  skirmishes. 
For  some  time  he  aeted  under  an  apiiointment 
by  Major  Nelson  as  commissary  for  refugees.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  from  serviee  in  h'eb- 
1 uary  of  1863. 

( )n  the  20th  day  of  .April,  18(15,  wedding 
bells  were  rung  for  David  F.  Richardson  and 
llelle  N  euters.  The  bride  was  the  daughter  of 
Ceorge  \  enters,  a  resident  of  this  county.  I'our 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  were  born  of 
this  union:  Alary  E.,  now  Mrs.  Martin  Herron, 
of  Shelbyville  ;  Minnie  J..  now  Mrs.  ( )tto  Storm, 
of  Richland  township;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  M. 
F.  Storm,  of  Strasburg  and  Alarcus  L.,  who  is  at 
home. 

For  a  period  of  thirteen  years,  Mr.  Richard¬ 
son  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Wind- 
Sf.i.  Flight  of  these  years  he  was  town  clerk. 
■After  moving  to  Shelbyville,  he  was  dejmty 
sheriff  of  the  county  for  a  period  of  si.x  years. 

■Mr.  Richardson  was  the  owner  of  above 
eleven  hundred  acres  of  land  on  which  there 
were  valuable  coal  deposits,  but  has  recently  sold 
three  hundred  and  eighty-three  acres.  For  some 
vears  he  has  engaged  in  the  raising  of  thorough¬ 
bred  stock — Poll  .Angus  cattle,  Duroc  Jersey 
sv  me,  and  Shropshire  sheep.  For  the  third  time 
he  is  now  a  resident  of  Shelbyville,  and  lives  in 
a  comfortable  home  of  his  own  on  North  llroad- 
wav.  He  has  been  a  life-long  democrat,  yet  has 
ever  held  men  above  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  .N.  F^  and  .A.  AI.  lodge.  Air.  Richardson  bears 


a  reputation  for  honesty,  thrift,  integrity  and 
l)ublic-spiritedness.  He  is  one  of  Shelby  coun- 
ty’s  good  citizens. 

=1:  *  *  * 

DR.  FR.AXKLFN'  1*.  PIN  IX'S. 

'I'he  subject  of  this  review  has  ever  lived  in 
Shelby  county ;  his  birth  taking  place  in  Rose 
township  July  30th,  1853.  His  father,  William 
R.,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  having  been  born 
near  the  city  of  Nashville;  he  came  with  his  i)ar- 
ents  to  Illinois  when  about  four  years  of  age. 
During  the  greater  ])art  of  his  life  he  was  en¬ 
gaged  in  rural  ])ursuits.  though,  for  a  period  of 
eighteen  years  he  conducted  a  grocery  store  m 
Shelbyville.  He  was  a  “forty-niner,”  and  made 
the  overland  tri])  to  the  far  western  gold  fields, 
driving  through  with  an  ox  team.  .An  e.xciting 
ex])erience  while  crossing  the  Platte  river,  in 
which  one  of  his  ])arty  was  drowned,  ever  lin¬ 
gered  among  Air.  Hivin's  vivid  recollections;  he 
was  somewhat  profited  by  the  trip.  His  death 
occurred  in  his  seventy-third  year. 

Frusan  (Warren)  Pivins,  the  mother  of  the 
doctor,  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  Warren,  a 
cai)tain  in  the  Alexican  war.  She  was  indigenous 
to  Illinois.  I'ranklin  was  reared  u])on  a  farm, 
and  if  his  boyhood  was  at  all  exceptional  it  was 
in  the  amount  of  work  he  performed.  In  addi¬ 
tion  to  district  school  training,  the  doctor,  by 
walking  to  and  from  Shelbyville  each  day,  man¬ 
aged  to  .spend  some  time  in  the  High  school, 
h'or  a  period  of  three  years  in  his  young  man¬ 
hood  he  engaged  in  clerking,  but  desisted 
through  ill  health.  In  1878  he  entered  the 
Aliami  Aledical  college  and  also  the  office  of  Dr. 
Thos.  L.  Catherwood  ;  three  years  later  he  was 
graduated  witb  high  honors,  securing  a  general 
rank'  of  ninety-eight  (ler  cent  in  all  his  studies. 


B/OGRAP///ES. 


and  being-  chosen  valedictorian  of  his  class  which 
was  quite  an  honor. 

Through  the  influence  of  Dr.  Catherwood. 
niost  probably,  he  began  his  i)rofessional  career 
in  this  city.  That  "a  prophet  is  not  without 
honor  save  in  his  own  country”  is  usually  the 
case,  yet  Dr.  Ilivins  has  come  to  rank  among  the 
first  and  best  practitoners  in  the  county.  In  the 
month  of  October,  1881,  he  was  joined  in  mar¬ 
riage  to  Miss  Clara  Ik  Scovil,  of  Shelbyville.  To 
them  were  born  three  children — Juanita  M., 
Mabel  C.,  and  W'arren  S.  The  death  of  Mrs. 
llivins  occurred  in  September,  1891.  The  chil¬ 
dren  are  all  living  and  in  school,  and  reside  with 
their  father  in  his  home  on  North  llroadway. 
I’esides  his  professional  work,  the  doctor  is  en¬ 
gaged  in  real  estate  business  with  his  brother, 
11.  L.,  and  is  the  owner  of  considerable  valuable 
property,  hie  was  reared  by  staunch  Methodist 
parents  ;  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  he 
takes  an  active  part,  showing  particular  interest 
in  the  work  of  the  Epworth  League  and  Smiday 
school.  He  has  held  numici])al  positions  of  ])ub- 
lic  honor  and  trust ;  we  have  found  him  to  be  a 
gentleman  of  uniform  courtesy,  with  a  vivacious, 
social  temperament,  and  we  gladly  reckon  him 
among  our  friends.  His  i)ractice  has  been  wide 
and  successful,  which  fact  stamps  its  own  ap¬ 
proval  upon  the  doctor’s  work. 

^  ^  H* 

PETER  DIDDE.\. 

Peter  Diddea  was  born  of  German  parentage 
in  Pottsville,  Pa.,  June  ist,  1849.  The  name  of 
his  father  was  Christian,  and  the  maiden  name 
of  his  mother,  Margaret  Geremahley.  The  father 
v.  as  a  coal  miner  by  occupation  and  had  a  place 
among  the  overseers.  He  moved  to  Chicago 
when  Peter  was  a  small  child,  and  afterward  to 


Sheffield,  this  state,  where  he  again  found  em- 
ployment  in  a  mine.  In  the  year  1865  he  moved 
to  Stewardson  and  purchesed  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres.  His  death  occurred  six  years  later,  viz., 
in  1871.  Mrs.  Diddea  still  lives  and  is  a  resi¬ 
dent  of  Effingham. 

In  addition  to  the  ordinary  district  school 
education,  our  subject  sjjcnt  some  time  in  the 
college  at  Teutojiolis;  this  doubtless  served  to  fit 
him  for  the  business  successes  which  he  has 
achieved  in  these  later  years.  He  began  com¬ 
mercial  life  for  himself  in  1871.  The  only  capital 
of  which  he  was  posses.sed  was  that  inherent  in 
himself  and  in  the  i)erson  of  a  loyal  wife.  In 
.\ugust  of  the  year  last  named  he  was  married  to 
.Miss  Elizabeth  .\.  LefUer.  a  native  of  ( )hio.  To¬ 
gether  they  settled  upon  a  leased  farm,  rearing 
the  humble  log  cabin  in  which  they  lived.  I'ive 
children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  were 
born  to  them.  'Ihe  two  living  are;  Miss  Ida, 
who  is  housc-keei)er  for  her  father,  the  faithful 
mother  having  died  in  1893;  and  Emma,  now 
Mrs.  Wesley  Duddleston,  of  Stewardson. 

h'or  one  year  .Mr.  Diddea  conducted  an  im¬ 
plement  business  in  Stewardson  with  Mr.  (k  S. 
Paldwin  as  jjartner,  and.  then  dis.solving  the  part- 
nershi]),  he  entered  another  to  trade  in  the  same 
line  of  merchandise,  with  Mr.  (icorge  W.  \'oris. 
.\fter  two  years  Mr.  Diddea  was  made  assignee 
to  look  after  the  interests  of  a  stock  of  hardware ; 
he  then  went  in  the  firm  of  \'ork,  Mautz 
Diddea.  .\fter  one  year  Mr.  'S'ork  dropi)ed  out 
of  the  partnershi]),  and  the  remaining  two  con¬ 
ducted  the  business  for  a  period  of  twelve  years. 
While  with  Mr.  Mautz,  Mr.  Diddea  owned  an 
interest  in  a  livery  stable  at  .\ltamont  and  a  half 
interest  in  his  i)resent  establishment  in  Shelby¬ 
ville.  In  1893  came  to  this  city  and  has  since 
become  the  sole  owner  and  manager  of  the  busi¬ 
ness  here.  He  keeps  between  twenty  and  thirt\- 


287 


BIOGRAPniJiS. 


liorses  and  numerous  fine  rigs  and  turnouts.  His 
prices  are  reasonable  and  all  may  feel  assured  of 
courteous  and  satisfactory  treatment.  Hesides 
this  livery  enter])rise  he  conducts  three  excellent 
farms,  and  is  the  owner  of  above  five  hundred 
acres  of  good  land.  He  is  gradually  becoming 
(|uite  an  extensive  stock  raiser  and  dealer.  In 
politics  Mr.  Diddea  is  a  democrat.  At  the  time 
he  cast  his  first  ballot  he  was  elected  constable 
and  until  business  cares  precluded  the  possibility 
of  taking  an  active  part  in  political  affairs  he  was 
ne\er  without  a  public  office.  Jle  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  and  K.  of  P.  orders,  besides 
several  insurance  organizations.  The  life  of  our 
subject  illustrates  what  is  possible  in  the  line  (jf 
financial  success  to  those  who  are  frugal  and  in¬ 
dustrious.  .As  we  have  stated,  he  began  with 
nothing  and  is  now  well-to-do.  In  additon  to 
this,  he  bears  a  good  name  throughout  the 
county.  W'e  find  him  kind,  approachable  and 
obliging,  and  account  him  among  our  friends. 

*  *  *  * 

HO.MEK  S.  CORLEY,  M.  I). 

d'he  subject  of  this  review  was  born  in  Cold 
Si)ring  townsbip,  Shelby  county,  on  the  28th  day 
(jf  .August,  A.  D.  1871.  His  father,  W.  W.  Cor¬ 
ley,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  came  to  this 
state  in  1823,  being  2  years  old;  and  his  mother 
was  born  one  mile  west  of  Shelbyville,  in  1834. 
'I'he  Corleys  settled  upon  land  which  is  remem¬ 
bered  as  the  ‘‘Old  Ridge  camp  ground."  Here 
thev  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  rais¬ 
ing.  The  Pughs  or  mother’s  parents  settled 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  northeast,  on  the 
Wakefield  farm.  The  Wakefields  were  the  first 
settlers  in  Shellyv  county. 

Air.  Corley  correctly  reads  the  signs  of  the 
times,  and  saw  the  increasing  importance  of 


educational  training:  having  become  somewhat 
o])ulent  through  the  successful  management  of 
his  farm,  he  moved  into  the  City  of  Shelbyville, 
that  his  children  might  have  the  benefits  of  a 
graded  school,  d'hus  it  occurred  that  Homer’s 
early  years  were  spent  in  the  rugged  pursuits  of 
a  farmer’s  son,  and  in  attendance  upon  the  dis¬ 
trict  school ;  while,  somewhat  later,  during  his 
youth,  he  enjoyed  better  privileges,  I'or  a  per¬ 
iod  of  four  years  he  further  stored  his  mind 
with  the  treasures  of  knowledge  in  the  halls  of 
the  W  esleyan  L’niversity,  at  llloomington,  Illi¬ 
nois,  Subsecpiently,  for  one  semester,  he  at¬ 
tended  the  Mrown  Ihisiness  College,  and  then 
matriculated  with  the  Missouri  Aledical  College, 
of  St,  Louis,  (now  the  W’ashingt'on  Cniversity), 
and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 
class  of  ’97:  thus  were  laid,  broad  and  deep,  the 
foundations  of  that  generous  culture  which  now 
characterizes  the  man.  He  began  the  ])ractice 
of  his  chosen  ])rofessiun  in  Tower  Hill  the  sum¬ 
mer  after  his  graduation.  ( )n  the  14th  day  of  Feb¬ 
ruary,  Kjoo,  he  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss 
hjdith  E.,  the  accomjilished  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  J. 
Conner,  of  Pana,  Illinois.  The  doctor  in  addi¬ 
tion  to  his  jiractice,  conducts  the  home  farm  of 
one  hundred  sixty  acres,  which  is  situated  about 
four  miles  south  of  Tower  Hill.  Lor  about  two 
years  he  was  a  partner  in  a  furniture  business  in 
Ee  Roy,  111.,  viz.,  from  1894-1896.  The  deaths 
of  the  doctor’s  jiarents,  who  lived  to  rank  among 
the  old  and  best-known  citizens  of  the  county, 
occurred  in  the  years  (father)  Alarch  20,  1890; 
and  (mother)  January  20,  1891.  Our  subject  is 
Past  Alaster  of  the  Alasonic  lodge  of  Tower  Hill, 
Xo.  493.  and  is  also  ])resent  Alaster  of  the  same. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  order,  Alerlin 
lodge,  Xo.  202,  at  Ee  Roy,  and  also  of  A.  I.  chap¬ 
ter  Sigma  Chi  fraternity.  Ploomington,  Illinois. 
He  is  Past  Sachem  in  the  Improved  Order  of 


288 


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KINDI. KV  HKHVMKU.  HKNKV  MII.I.ICK. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Redmen,  Shingewassa  tribe.  Xo.  i  i6,  and  a 
member  of  Past  Sachem’s  association.  In  i)oli- 
tics  lie  is  a  republican,  but  not  a  bitter  ])artisan. 
For  three  years  he  has  been  committeeman  for 
liis  township.  For  a  period  of  two  years  he  has 
been  president  of  the  \  illage  Uoard  of  Health. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Central  Illinois  Medical 
society  and  ranks  well  in  his  profession.  W  e 
have  found  him  to  be  a  gentleman  pleasant  to 
meet,  cultured,  refined  and  possessed  of  public 
spirit.  His  ])ractice  is  increasingly  large,  as  is 
also  the  circle  of  his  friends,  lloth  the  doctor 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  in  the  first  rank  in 
social  circles,  and  we  ])redict  for  them  lives  of 
increasing  usefulness,  happiness  and  success 
The  name  Corley  is  to  remain  a  prominent  one 
in  the  annals  of  Shelby  county. 

*  +  *  * 

FIXHLFV  IIEHVMFR. 

(.\n  .\utobiography.) 

Findley  Hehynier  is  the  son  of  Samuel 
llehymcr,  Sr.,  who  was  a  native  of  \  irginia.  and 
of  Cerman  descent.  He  resided  with  his  parents 
till  grown  to  manhood,  and  then  emigrated  from 
Fredericksburg,  \’a.,  to  a  place  near  the  present 
site  of  Cincinnati :  this  was  just  prior  to  the  ad¬ 
mission  of  ( )hio  as  a  state.  Here  Father  llehy- 
mer  made  a  land  ])urchasc  from  Col.  Lucas,  of 
Revolutionary  fame;  this  comjwised  a  military 
tract  of  two  thousand  acres  bordering  on  the 
Ohio  river,  about  fifteen  miles  above  Low 
Santeeville.  now  Cincinnati.  Hamilton  and 
Lucas  counties  divide  on  tbe  southwest  corner 
of  this  tract.  Father  settled  ujion  this  survey 
with  his  young  \’irginian  wife.  Miss  Catherine 
Logan.  His  nearest  neighbor,  the  father  of  his 
wife,  lived  two  miles  distant :  the  countrv  be¬ 


tween  being  freciuently  occui)ied  by  prowling 
savages  and  fierce  animals.  Six  children  were 
born  into  this  frontier  home;  two  boys  and  four 
girls.  .After  about  twenty  years  of  toil  in  which 
many  primeval  conditons  were  altered  by  needed 
improvements,  the  wife’s  health  began  to  fail 
and  she  crossed  the  borders  of  the  unseen  coun¬ 
try.  .\bout  1818,  father  was  subse(|uently  married 
to  a  ^  ankee  lady.  Miss  Mary  Parvin.  X’ine  chil¬ 
dren  were  the  offspring  of  this  union,  all  bovs, 
of  which  I  am  the  seventh.  My  birth  took 
place  in  Clermont  county.  ( )hio.  March  iith. 
1829.  My  opportunities  for  an  education  were 
limited  to  the  district  school  of  that  earlv  dav. 
When  I  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  father,  who 
had  been  an  invalid  for  several  years,  |)assed  to 
his  upper  estate.  A  few  months  ])rior  t<i  the  loss 
of  my  father.  1  had  lived  as  an  ajjprentice  to  a 
car])enter  and  joiner ;  after  three  years.  1  served 
one  year  as  foreman  for  my  em])loyer.  In  1852 
1  went  to  Indianapolis  and  there  worked  u])on  the 
Pates  hotel,  the  .Asylum  for  the  Plind.  the  Capi¬ 
tol.  etc.  1  afterward  returned  to  Cincinnati  and 
resumed  my  trade  in  that  city. 

( )n  January  5th,  1854,  1  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Susan  Leach  .\shcraft.  the  eldest  daughter  of 
John  and  Xancy  Leach,  then  of  Clermont  coun¬ 
ty.  ( )hio.  Previous  to  my  marriage  I  had  pur¬ 
chased  a  home  where  1  resided  until  the  si)ring  of 
1857.  when  I  sold  out  and  moved  by  stream  to 
Keokuk,  Iowa.  Soon  after  reaching  the  above 
])lace  a  cyclone  completely  ruined  the  town  and 
in  the  depression  which  followe<l  1  moved  to 
.8helbyville.  Illinois.  Here  1  arrived  June  9th. 
1857.  and  at  once  took  uj)  the  work  of  my  trade, 
which  T  continued  till  1862.  .At  Lincoln’s  call 
for  100.000  volunteers  I  res])onded  and  assisted 
in  organizing  Co.  P.  of  the  i  15th  111.  Inf.  1  was 
elected  first  corporal.  .Afterward  I  was  pro- 


289 


BI0GRAP1//ES. 


nioted,  undcT  the  liaiid  of  Col.  Moore,  for  ineri- 
toriou.s  conduct  under  dangerous  circumstances, 
to  tlie  rank  of  sergeant.  W  as  ever  with  my  com- 
l)anv  save  at  short  intervals :  1  served  as  a  com- 
missi(jned  officer  in  the  battle  of  W'^anhachie, 
Tenn.,  ( Ictober  2(;th,  1863,  and  later  commanded 
the  regiment  on  Xew  N'ear's  day,  1864,  while  the 
(  flicers  were  celebrating  at  a  town  a  few  miles 
away. 

In  1864,  June  2d,  I  was  a])])ointed  Color 
Hearer  and  was  si)ecially  commended  for  gal¬ 
lant  conduct  in  the  battle  of  Xashville.  W  hen 
the  regiment  was  mustered  out  I  returned  to 
Shelbyville,  and  to  my  former  house  which  had 
stood  incom])lete  through  those  years  of  service, 
but  which  had  been  watched  over  and  cared  for 
bv  an  anxious  and  loving  wife.  1  com])leted  my 
bouse  and  then  resumed  the  labors  of  my  trade 
in  a  public  manner.  I  was  named  by  the  citi¬ 
zens  as  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  School 
Hoard  in  the  act  of  the  legislature  which  created 
the  “Shelbyville  ('.raded  School."  The  charter 
was  granted  May  7th,  1869,  and  under  this  the 
Main  street  school  building  was  erected. 

T  took  an  active  ])art  in  the  organization  of 
the  Shelbv  County  k'eteran  association,  and  was 
a]4)ointed  on  the  committee  to  draft  constituion 
and  by-laws ;  when  our  work  was  presented  it 
was  adojjted  without  alteration.  W'as  chosen  by 
Commander  K.  H.  Martin,  of  Cyrus  Hall  Post, 
G.  R.,  as  one  of  a  committee  of  three  to  raise 
funds  with  which  to  ]dace  a  suitable  memorial 
window  in  the  First  M.  E.  church.  This  enter¬ 
prise  was  successfully  consummated  and  today 
the  beautiful  south-front  window  may  be  seen  by 
all,  bearing  a  triune  inscri])tion  which  is  doubt¬ 
less  well-pleasing  to  the  Creator  and  Founder  of 
all  nations. 


JAMES  HOYS. 

It  is  an  imi)ortant  duty  to  honor  and  ))erpet- 
uate,  as  far  as  is  possible,  the  memory  of  the  citi¬ 
zen,  who,  by  his  blameless  and  honorable  life, 
has  reflected  credit  up(jn  the  region  in  which  he 
has  lived.  His  example,  in  whatever  held  his 
work  may  have  been  done,  thus  stands  as  an  ob¬ 
ject  lesson  to  those  who  come  after  him,  and 
though  dead  he  yet  speaks. 

James  Hoys,  of  whom  we  write,  was  such  a 
man,  and  bore  such  a  character,  leaving  to  his 
children  and  acciuaintances  an  example  which 
commands  respect  and  enudatiem.  Mr.  Hoys 
was  born  in  Durbin  county,  Indiana,  on  the  26th 
day  of  June,  1827,  the  same  year  in  which  this 
county  was  organized.  His  parents  were  Ale.x- 
ander  and  V  irginia  ( Hradley)  Hoys,  who  were 
born,  respectively,  in  Ohio  and  "(fid  V'irginia," 
Mr.  Hovs  being  of  Irish  descent,  and  Mrs.  Hoys 
of  Scotch  i)arentage.  When  but  seven  years  of 
age,  James  came  with  his  parents  to  Vermilion 
county,  this  state,  where  they  settled  upon  a 
farm,  and  for  three  years  engaged  in  the  im- 
])rovement  of  the  same.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  they  removed  to  Shelby  county,  and 
])tocured  land  in  Okaw  townshij).  These  ])arents 
remained  in  Shelby  until  their  deaths,  which  oc¬ 
curred  in  1881,  within  two  days  of  each  other. 
They  were  laid  to  rest  at  the  same  time,  and  in 
the  .same  grave,  thus  being  united  in  death  as 
they  had  been  in  life. 

James  Hovs  is  one  of  thirteen  children  born 
to  the  patents  above  mentioned,  three  of  whom 
died  before  reaching  maturity.  He  spent  his  early 
life  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  was  taught  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  having  at¬ 
tended  the  first  school  ever  held  in  Okaw  town¬ 
ship. 


290 


BIOGRAP/i/ES. 


On  the  15th  of  Octoljer,  1849,  l>oys  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Hardy.  She  was  a  native  of  Fairfield  county. 
( )hio,  twenty-two  years  before.  After  his  mar¬ 
riage.  Mr.  Boys  ])urchased  land  which  is  now 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Shelbyville.  but 
two  years  later  settled  upon  land  in  Ridge  town¬ 
ship,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  Decem¬ 
ber  21.  1897,  and  where  his  loved  wife  died  on 
the  I  ith  of  Xovember  of  the  year  ])revious.  At 
the  time  of  his  marriage  i\lr.  Boys  was  not  rich 
in  this  world's  goods,  but.  with  his  young  wife, 
possessed  indomitable  energy  and  courage,  and 
in  the  years  following  he  accumulated  consider¬ 
able  property,  ultimately  owning  800  acres  of 
fine  farming  land,  500  of  which  were  included  in 
the  farm  u])on  which  he  resided,  and  upon  which 
he  still  remained,  though  being  retired  for  some 
few  years  jjrevious  to  his  demise. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boys  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  are 
as  follows:  John.  W’.,  whose  biography  a])pears 
in  this  volume :  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Robert 
Weakly,  a  i)ros])erous  farmer  of  Ridge  townshij) : 
James  M.,  a  sketch  of  whom  also  a])])ears  upon 
another  page  of  this  book;  Thomas  H..  a  physi¬ 
cian  of  St.  Louis,  who  married  Miss  Lucy  Fisher, 
of  Flat  Branch  township;  and  C.  F.,  also  living 
in  St.  Louis,  and  who  married  Miss  Della 
Risacker,  of  Shelbyville. 

Mr.  Boys  was  a  democrat  in  politics,  and 
cast  his  vote  and  influence  with  that  party  for 
years.  He  held  the  office  of  road  commissioner 
and  school  director  for  some  years,  but  refused 
to  accept  any  office  which  would  necessitate  his 
reliiKiuishing  his  attention  to  his  ])rivate  busi¬ 
ness  affairs.  Both  Mr.  Boys  and  his  wife  were 
])rominent  members  of  the  ^[ethodist  church. 
South,  and  were  earnest  su])porters  of  the  same. 
Mainly  through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Boys,  a 


church  of  that  denomination  was  erected  near  his 
home,  .\fter  long  years  of  uprightness,  this 
worthy  coui)le  are  now  enjoying  the  "crown  of 
righteousness"  which  the  Lord  hath  given  them. 

*  *  *  * 

\ 

JAMES  M.  BOVS. 

( )f  James  M.  Boys  we  write  this  biograjihy. 
one  of  the  boys  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James 
Boys,  whose  memorial  biogra])hy  a^ipears  among 
the  memoirs  in  this  volume.  He  was  born  on 
the  farm  in  Ridge  township.  Shelby  county, 
thirty-six  years  ago.  and  has  ever  lived  within 
a  few  miles  of  his  birth|)lace.  His  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  his  outside  reading  and 
observation  have  made  of  him  a  well-educate<l 
man  in  agricultural  lines  and  other  affairs.  While 
a  yt)ung  man.  he  assisted  in  the  conduct  of  Iiis 
father's  farm,  and  in  1867  removed  to  the  Hager 
farm,  which  he  rented  for  a  period  of  three  years. 
His  farming  here  was  exceptionally  successful, 
and  in  one  season  he  sold  $1800  worth  of  wheat 
from  that  farm.  From  1890  to  1892.  he  tilled  a 
])art  of  his  father's  farm  and  80  acres  adjoining, 
which  he  purchased  with  his  "wheat  money, 
referred  to  above.  This  is  the  80  acres  in  section 
26,  on  which  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Bovs  received  80 
acres  from  his  father,  and  subseciuently  ]nir- 
chased  80  acres,  which  now  makes  him  the  ])os- 
sessor  of  240  acres  of  rich  farming  land,  all  of 
which,  he.  himself  farms.  In  addition  to  this 
work,  he  conducts  a  threshing  business  which  he 
began  in  the  fall  of  1897.  which  he  is  very 

successful,  securing  a  great  deal  of  threshing 
through  his  section  of  the  county.  In  the  last 
season,  which  was  the  best  of  all.  he  did  more 
than  a  thou.sand  dollars'  worth  of  business  in  that 
line.  In  1899,  Mr.  Boys  sold  more  than  $1,800 
worth  of  broom  corn,  the  product  of  only  sixty 


BIOGRAP/UES. 


acres  of  his  land.  In  itSy/,  he  erected  tlie  lionsc 
in  which  lie  resides,  and  which,  for  ai)])earance 
and  convenience,  ranks  amongst  the  best  in  the 
county.  It  has  modern  aiipliances,  and  running 
water  inside,  which  is  not  found  in  very  many 
of  the  dwellings  outside  of  city  limits.  The  harn, 
which  is  a  fine,  large  one,  was  built  in  1893. 

Miss  Ida  K.  Rogers,  of  \’andalia,  Illinois, 
was  the  young  lady  who,  by  her  charming  man¬ 
ner,  captivated  Mr.  Roys,  who,  succumbing  to 
her  power  cjuite  willingly,  led  her  to  Hymen’s 
altar  in  the  year  of  1886.  Miss  Rogers  was  the 
daughter  of  W’.  II.  and  I’hehe  (.\skins)  Rogers. 
Rut  one  child  has  been  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ro\s,  a  son,  ('den  \*.,  horn  on  the  18th  of  June, 
1890,  and  who  is  attending  school.  Roth  Mr. 
Roys  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  of  the 
Court  of  Honor. 

Mr.  Rovs  is  what  is  commonly  termed  a 
"stifif  democrat,"  believing  in  the  doctrines  set 
forth  by  that  party,  with  all  his  heart,  and  lend¬ 
ing  all  his  influence  and  vote  to  its  success.  Ry 
his  neighbors  he  is  looked  upon  with  favor  and 
as  one  who  is  of  upright  character  and  untiring 
energy  in  pursuit  of  that  which  will  secure  to 
himself  and  family  greater  happiness  and  enjoy¬ 
ment  of  life. 

*  ♦  * 

jolix  \V.  ROYvS. 

The  man  of  whom  we  write  this  sketch,  was 
born  on  the  18th  day  of  March,  1857,  the  son  of 
James  Roys,  a  meimfir  of  whom  a])pears  in  this 
volume.  His  boyhood  was  spent  u])on  the  farm 
of  the  father,  and  his  education  was  begun  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  Later  in 
life,  having  jjassed  through  the  grades  of  the 
common  schools,  he  spent  two  years  in  careful 
and  persistent  study  in  the  High  school  of  Shel- 


byville,  and  accpiired  an  education  which  has 
been  ever  helpful  to  him  in  his  argicultural  pur¬ 
suits,  as  well  as  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as 
a  ])ublic  officer,  of  which  we  will  s])eak  later. 

W  hen  22  years  of  age  he  began  farming,  in¬ 
dependently,  on  80  acres  of  land  previously  pur¬ 
chased  by  him,  in  ( )kaw  township.  .At  the  ex¬ 
piration  of  two  years  he  sold  his  farm,  and  ])ur- 
chased  what  is  known  as  the  Hager  farm,  in 
Ridge  townshi]).  h'or  three  years  after  he  mar¬ 
ried  he  lived  there,  and  then  disposed  of  the 
place,  hu}  ing  in  its  stead  a  farm  in  Section  27,  of 
the  same  township,  upon  which  he  still  resides. 
Ry  honest  endeavor  and  intelligent  working  out 
of  ideas  and  jilans  relating  to  the  tilling  of  the 
soil.  Air.  Roys  has  made  a  success  of  farming, 
and  is  today  possessed  of  about  455  acres  of  most 
excellent  land.  (  )f  this,  he,  himself,  works  about 
250  acres,  while  he  has  the  balance  of  it  let  to 
tenants.  In  1896.  Air.  Roys  sustained  a  consid¬ 
erable  loss,  in  the  burning  of  his  house,  the  value 
of  which  was  only  ])artially  covered  by  insurance; 
but  in  the  same  summer,  however,  he  erected  his 
present  comfortable  and  substantial  dwelling, 
which  is  built  in  modern  design,  and  presents  a 
very  jileasing  a])pearance. 

Air.  Roys’  wife  was  Aliss  Katie  L.  Royce, 
of  Alt.  \  ernon,  Indiana.  Her  |)arents  were 
Washington  and  Hattie  Royce,  the  maiden  name 
of  her  mother  being  Alldredge.  Air  and  Airs. 
Roys  have  been  the  jiarents  of  seven  children,  six 
of  whom  are  still  living  and  are  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

"There,  is  no  fireside,  howe’er  defended. 

Rut  has  one  vacant  chair,” 

is  true  of  this  home,  for  eleven  years  ago  occur¬ 
red  the  death  of  Washington  Roys,  then  but  five 
years  of  age.  A\’e  name  those  who  are  living  in 


292 


jOlIN  .\N(;i.IN.  -  JOHN  IlOVS. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


the  order  of  their  birth,  as  follows :  T.  DeW’itt, 
named  for  Talmage ;  W  ilkinson  1’.,  Fabian,  Floy 
and  W'esley. 

Mr.  Boys  has  ever  been  identified  with  the 
democrats  in  politics,  and  is  prominent  in  poli¬ 
tical  circles.  He  has  been  honored  by  his  neigh¬ 
bors,  in  being  elected  supervisor  from  his  town¬ 
ship,  a  position  which  he  now  holds,  together 
with  the  responsible  office  of  treasurer  of  his 
school  district.  He  has  been  an  incumbent  of  the 
office  of  township  clerk,  and  also  township  col¬ 
lector,  two  positions  of  trust  which  he  occupied 
and  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  to  the 
eminent  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Boys  is  an  honored  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  lodge.  He  and  his  family 
are  esteemed  by  their  neighbors,  and  occupy  a 
very  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  their  friends. 

*  *  *  * 

AL\  A  V.  WEAKLY  . 

( )hio  bears  the  distinction  of  having  su])- 
plied  more  ])residents  to  the  Union  than  any 
other  state,  and  it  has  doubtless  furnished  to 
Shelb\  county  more  pioneers  than  have  come 
from  any  other  one  state.  By  no  means  the 
least  among  these _jvere  Samuel  and  Maria  (Fet¬ 
ters)  Weakly,  who.  in  the  spring  of  1852.  occu¬ 
pied  fourteen  days  in  driving  through  from 
fbckaway  county,  Ohio,  to  Ridge  township,  in 
this  county.  Here  they  rented  a  farm,  upon 
which  they  lived  until  the  fall  of  that  year,  when 
they  bought  a  farm  and  settled  upon  it,  remain¬ 
ing  there  until  their  deaths;  that  of  Mr.  Weakly 
occurring  in  1890,  and  Mrs.  Weakly  dying  in 
i860.  These  people  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil¬ 
dren,  nine  of  whom  are  still  living;  and  .\lva  P. 
Weakly,  of  whom  we  write  this  sketch  was  the 
second  .son. 


-Mva  was  born  in  the  Ohio  home,  in  1842, 
and  has  a  very  vivid  recollection  of  the  long  over¬ 
land  journey  above  referred  to.  when  he  was  but 
ten  years  of  age.  ( )ne  incident,  in  particular,  of 
the  trip  will  never  be  effaced  from  his  memorv. 
In  fording  Eel  river,  they  inadvertently  drove 
into  (luicksand  which  abounded  along  the  edge 
of  the  water,  and  it  was  only  by  the  assistance  of 
others  that  they  were  enabled  to  safely  cross. 

The  "schooling''  of  this  boy  was  received  in 
the  districts  of  his  boyhood  homes,  and  he  was 
well  drilled  in  the  studies  taken  U])  in  those  early 
days.  At  the  time  of  his  coming  to  Shelbv  coun¬ 
ty.  there  were  no  churches  near  his  home,  and 
the  circuit  |)reachers  held  their  services  in  the 
school  houses,  thus  illustrating  that  religion  and 
education  go  hand  in  hand.  In  Shelbyville.  was 
the  nearest  physician,  and  when  it  became  nec¬ 
essary  to  come  to  this  place  for  any  pur])Ose. 
the\  came  in  a  bee-line  across  the  ])rairie.  as 
there  was  no  road  then  established.  .At  that  time 
the  site  u])on  which  the  First  National  bank  now 
stands,  was  occu])ied  by  a  steam  saw  mill. 
.Among  these  frontier-like  environments,  .Alva 
grew  to  be  a  stalwart.  ha])|)y-heartcd  young  man. 
always  ready  to  jierform  his  share  and  more,  of 
the  agricultural  toil.  .Kfter  settling  upon  his 
father's  farm  for  si.x  or  seven  years,  he  purchased 
80  acres  near  by.  and  began  tilling  the  soil  on  his 
own  behalf.  This  farm  in  which  there  were  at 
first  but  80  acres,  now  contains  335  ;  Mr.  Weakly 
having,  by  ])urchase.  increased  it  to  its  present 
dimensions,  and  has  made  it  one  of  the  most  de¬ 
sirable  pieces  of  real  estate  in  Shelby  county. 
The  house  in  which  he  now  resides  is  not  more 
than  a  mile  and  a  half  from  where  the  father  lo¬ 
cated  upon  his  advent  in  the  county.  This  large 
and  handsome  residence,  of  modern  architecture, 
and  the  spacious  barns,  were  built  by  Afr. 


293 


BIOGRAPH /ES. 


W'eakly,  and  are  indeed  an  ornament  to  tlie  sec¬ 
tion  of  the  comity  in  wliich  they  stand. 

In  1864,  Miss  Mary  iNliller  liecame  tlie  wife 
of  Mr.  W'eakly,  and  lias  until  the  present,  been 
the  partner  of  his  domestic  felicity,  and  has 
shared  with  him  the  universal  respect  and  good¬ 
will  of  their  large  circle  of  friends  and  neighbors ; 
and  the  hospitality  of  the  W  eakly  home  is 
authenticated  by  many  who  have  enjoyed  it. 
Mrs.  W'eakly  was  the  daughter  of  C.  P.  and 
Catherine  (Spears)  Miller,  of  Ridge  township, 
and  was  the  fifth  child  of  her  jiarents.  'I'o  iMr. 
and  i\lrs.  W'eakly  have  been  born  seven  children, 
who  ail  live,  and  are  a  credit  to  the  jiarents  who 
bore  them. 

Cyrus  S.  is  a  jirosperous  farmer  of  ( )bed, 
and  is  married  to  Clara  Moll,  of  that  jilace ; 

( )scar  M.  is  still  at  home,  and  assists  his  father 
in  the  conduct  of  the  farm  ;  William  E.  is  a  dry 
goods  merchant  at  Lakewood ;  Elmer  rents  a 
farm  near  his  father's,  and  is  married  to  ( )live 
a  daughter  of  one  of  the  Klauser  1  brothers,  of 
Shelbyville ;  Laura  .\.  is  the  wife  of  IMr.  J.  Trout, 
who  is  a  jiartner  of  Win.  W  eakly,  at  Lakewood; 
.\lta  is  the  wife  of  George  Seaman,  a  druggist  of 
Shelbvville  ;  and  Emory  A.  is  a  bright  lad  who 
helps  to  make  the  home  ha])]iy,  and  attends 
school. 

Mr.  W'eaklv  is  a  rejiublican  in  politics,  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  “Idonest  .\be,’'  of  whom  he 
was  a  great  admirer.  When  but  18  years  of  age 
he  united  with  the  Cnited  Brethren  church, 
and-  has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  same  to 
the  jiresent  time.  His  wife  also  became  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  this  church  in  her  girlhood,  and  together 
thev  discharge  their  religious  duties,  as  well  as 
those  of  a  more  secular  nature. 

Mr.  W'eakly  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and 
throughout  the  section  of  the  county  in  which  he 
lives  he  bears  an  enviable  rejiutation  for  keen 


business  tact  and  foresight,  and  there  is  jierhaps 
no  man  in  his  township  whose  advice  and  coun¬ 
sel  are  more  eagerly  sought,  and  more  closely 
followed.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  WTakly  arc  not  yet  old 
in  years,  but,  enjoying  to  the  full  the  blessings 
of  life,  they  are  journeying  hajijiily  toward  an 
honorable  old  age,  and  a  final  recom])ense  in 
Elysium,  for  lives  of  uprightness  and  good  deeds. 

*  *  *  * 

ROBERT  IlERROX. 

I'or  nearly  a  half  century  the  man  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch  has  been  identified  with 
the  interests  of  Shelby  county.  He  was  born  in 
Lowden  county,  X'irginia,  on  the  22(1  of  March, 
1818.  He  was  the  eldest  of  nine  children,  six  of 
whom  are  still  living.  The  parents  were  William 
Henry  Herrcm,  and  Melinda  (Combs)  Herron, 
both  natives  of  X'irginia.  The  father  was  a  black¬ 
smith  by  trade,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio  while 
Robert  was  but  an  infant.  In  after  years  Robert 
assisted  his  father  in  the  shoj),  but  was  never 
jileased  with  the  work. 

The  district  scho<rl  was  the  only  one  at¬ 
tended  by  our  subject,  but  he  made  good  use  of 
his  time  while  there.  Mr.  Herron  has  engaged 
in  various  i)ursuits,  the  first  of  which  was  agri¬ 
cultural,  in  Perry  county,  Ohio.  He  afterward 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Licken  coun¬ 
ty.  Later,  he  .sold  out  and  established  himself  in 
a  hotel,  which  he  subsequently  sold,  and  then 
purchased  a  saw  mill.  He  finally  resumed  farm¬ 
ing.  at  which  he  continued  in  Ohio,  until  1852, 
when  he  sold  his  farm  and  came  to  XX'indsor 
township,  in  this  county.  Thirteen  years  later, 
in  1865,  Air.  Herron  removed  to  the  farm  upon 
which  he  still  lives,  240  acres  in  section  23,  (bkaw 
township. 


294 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


In  1837,  Mr.  Herron  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Jane  Maddox,  of  Licken  county,  Ohio. 
She  was  the  daug'hter  of  Bennett  and  Elizal^eth 
(Menefee)  Maddox,  and  was  born  January  20, 
1817,  in  \  irginia.  The  names  of  the  nine  chil¬ 
dren  horn  to  iMr.  and  Mrs.  Herron  are  as  fol¬ 
lows:  David,  Leroy,  iMelinda,  Charles  and  May 
Elizabeth,  living;  Milton,  W’illiam  B.,  Julia  A., 
John  Bennett,  deceased.  Personal  sketches  of 
the  first  two  named  may  he  found  below  this  one. 

W'hen  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Herron  took  up  their 
abode  in  Shelby  county,  it  was  not  so  thickly 
populated  nor  extensively  cultivated  as  now. 
W’ild  turkeys,  deer,  and  prairie  wolves  abounded 
in  great  numbers,  and  furnished  plenty  of  sport 
for  Mr.  Herron,  who  thoroughly  enjoyed  hunt¬ 
ing.  Those  were  the  days,  too,  of  the  ])low  with 
wooden  mould-ohard,  reference  to  which  is  made 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  Mr.  Herron  used 
one  of  them  on  his  farm,  together  with  other 
crude  agricultural  im|)lements.  The  house  in 
which  he  and  his  wife  live  is  about  eighty  years 
old,  and  is  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  One 
notable  fact  in  connection  with  the  structure,  is 
that  the  logs  of  which  the  side  walls  are  built, 
are  thirty-six  feet  long.  Perhaps  no  other  house 
in  Illinois  is  built  of  logs  of  such  length.  The 
house  also  contains  one  of  the  genuine  old  fire- 
])laces  built  of  stone. 

Both  iMr.  and  iMrs.  Herron  are  genial,  kind- 
ly-dispositioned  j^eople.  and  have  ever  enjoyed 
pretty  good  health.  Even  at  their  advanced  age 
their  memory,  eyesight  and  hearing  are  remark¬ 
ably  good.  Mr.  Herron  being  able  to  read  with¬ 
out  glasses.  He  has  been  a  life-long  democrat, 
always  upholding  the  principles  and  doctrines 
of  that  political  party.  These  worthy  old  people 
are  enjoying  their  declining  years,  conscious  of 
lives  well  lived,  and  are  looking  “toward  the  set¬ 
ting  of  the  sun”  with  no  fear  or  disquietude. 


I)A\  11)  C.  HERROX. 

David  C.  Herron,  of  whom  we  write  this 
sketch,  was  horn  in  the  county  of  Licken.  ( )hio. 
April  21.  1840.  His  parentage  may  he  found  in 
the  sketch  immediately  jjreceding  this  one.  When 
twelve  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  ])arents  to 
Illinois.  dri\ing  through  with  horses  in  eighteen 
days.  They  were  ferried  across  the  Wabash 
river  at  Terre  Haute.  The  Big  Eour  bridge  at 
that  ])lace  was  just  being  built.  The  familv  ar¬ 
rived  in  Illinois  two  years  ahead  of  the  railroad, 
and  here  they  found  prairie  grass  so  high  that  a 
man  in  a  lumber  wagon  could  just  see  over  the 
to])  of  it.  They  settled  on  a  farm  where  Fletcher 
cha])el  now  stands,  in  Windsor  townshi]). 

Mr.  Herron’s  education  was  received  where 
the  great  majority  of  i)eoi)le  receive  theirs — in 
the  common,  district  sc1uh)1s.  In  the  years  1862 
and  1863  he  worked  for  W.  K.  Baker,  then,  re¬ 
turning  home,  remained  on  the  farm  of  his  father 
until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Xovemher 
14.  1867.  Miss  Mary  E.  Ouigiev  was  the  bride, 
and  the  marriage  was  solemnized  on  the  i)lace 
where  they  now  reside.  Mrs.  Herron's  parents 
were  James  H.  and  Lydia  (Murphy)  Ouigiev.  of 
the  counties  of  Tuscarawas  and  Belmont.  Ohio, 
■resi)ectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herron  have  been 
])arents  of  nine  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  The  names  of  the  others  are  as  follows  : 
Martin  L.,  who  married  Miss  Effie  Richardson, 
and  is  now  a  merchant  of  Shelhyville  ;  Edward 
X.,  who  married  Miss  Jane  Goddard,  lives  in 
Shelhyville.  and  is  one  of  the  firm  of  Herron 
Brothers  ;  Charles,  who  died  when  eighteen  years 
of  age;  William  F. ;  Della  M. :  Homer  ;  Mur¬ 
phy  ;  and  Bertha  E.  The  first  five  named  are  or 
have  been  teachers  in  the  schools  of  Shelhv 
county. 

For  twentv-three  vears  iMr.  and  }ifrs.  Her- 


295 


BIOGRA/Ui/ES. 


ron  have  resided  in  their  present  home,  and  for 
eighteen  years  have  owned  it.  Mr.  Herron  is  a 
ineml)er  of  no  secret  society,  but  is  a  democrat 
in  ])olitics,  as  was  his  father  before  him.  Mrs. 
Herron  is  a  faithful  meml)er  of  tlie  Methodist 
cliurch,  and  1)otli  she  and  her  liusl)and  stand  well 
in  the  esteem  of  the  commnmty  in  which  they 
reside. 

*  * 

LEKOV  HERR(  ).\. 

Lerov  Herron,  born  in  Perry  county,  ( )hio, 
June  13,  1843,  is  the  second  son  of  Robert  Her¬ 
ron,  whose  biogTai)hy  precedes  this  one.  It  was 
when  he  was  but  eight  years  old  that  he  was 
brought  hy  his  jiarents  to  Illinois,  and  it  was 
here,  in  the  common  schools  of  Shelby  county, 
that  he  received  his  education. 

He  has  ever  been  an  agriculturist,  and  when 
he  first  left  home  it  was  to  work  on  a  farm  in 
Rural  township,  when  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old.  In  1867  he  rented  a  farm  in  section  24*of 
( )kaw  township,  upon  which  he  continued  as  ten¬ 
ant  for  only  one  year.  He  then  removed  to  the 
farm  where  he  has  lived  ever  since,  which  is  a 
tract  of  seventy  acres,  originally  a  jjart  of  his 
father’s  farm.  In  connection  with  his  farming 
Mr.  Herron  has  threshed  grain  throughout  his 
section  of  the  county  for  twenty-two  successive 
years,  and  during  that  time  has  worn  out  two 
threshing  machines. 

( )n  the  27th  of  April,  1866.  Mr.  Herron  was 
happily  married  to  iMiss  Margaret  1.  Tull,  of 
Windsor  townshi]),  a  daughter  of  Josiah  15.  and 
Margaret  1.  (Putler)  Tull.  The  union  was 
blessed  bv  the  birth  of  six  children,  the  names 
of  whom  we  give,  as  follows:  Margaret  Jane, 
who  is  married  to  James  IMoyer,  a  farmer  of 
Okaw  township:  Ava  IT.  who  died  when  eigh¬ 


teen  years  of  age;  William  I)  and  Robert  J., 
who  are  popular  teachers  of  the  county ;  Ger¬ 
trude  and  I’arton  L.,  who  are  at  home  with  their 
l)arents. 

Leroy  Herron  is,  like  his  father  and  broth¬ 
ers.  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  is  ever  active  in 
the  snp])ort  of  the  princii)les  of  the  party  to 
which  he  renders  allegience.  The  entire  family 
is  highly  respected,  and  the  family  circle  is  a 
hai)py  one. 

*  *  *  * 

1).  M.  DL’DDLlTSThLW 

'I'he  subject  (jf  this  sketch  was  born  in  h'air- 
field  county.  ( )hio.  in  the  year  1851.  His  father, 
Xelson,  was  a  native  of  ()hio;  his  mother,  Mar¬ 
garet  (Markwoodj,  was  born  in  X’irginia.  'I'he 
<nie  of  whom  we  write  (IX  M.)  was  reared  upon 
a  farm,  and  attended  school  in  his  native  district, 
about  six  miles  from  J  Lancaster.  When  he  was 
nine  years  of  age,  his  ^larents  emigrated  to  this 
state,  reaching  Shelbyville  in  ( tctober,  1864. 
'1  hey  settled  on  a  farm  in  Prairie  township,  and 
here  our  subject  grew  to  manhood,  reared,  as 
other  farm  boys,  to  hard  work.  In  the  year  1874, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa,  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Kathrina  'rriece.  Immediately  after 
his  marriage  he  began  farming  for  himself,  in 
which  occupation  he  continued  until  his  removal 
to  Stewardson  in  1884.  In  the  place  last  named, 
Mr.  Duddlesten  established  a  brick  and  tile 
manufactory  which  he  still  operates.  'I'his  enter¬ 
prise  has  assumed  large  proportions ;  three  kilns 
are  used,  and  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty-five 
kilnfuls  are  turned  out  each  year.  Such  part  of 
this  product  as  is  not  consumed  in  Stewardson, 
is  shijjped  to  the  adjacent  territory. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duddlesten  are  the  parents  of 
six  children  :  Walter,  who  died  in  infancy.  \\  . 


296 


SAMUEL  H.  WEUSTEK.  1>K.  JOHN  C.  WESTEKVELT. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


\ 

C..  Stella,  lllanch,  Maude,  and  John  C.  This  en¬ 
tire  family  are  (except  the  youngest)  memhers 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  stand 
well  in  the  relij^ions  and  social  life  of  the  com¬ 
munity  in  which  they  reside.  Mr.  Dnddlesten 
mav  he  regarded  as  a  man  snccessfnl-in  hnsiness, 
and  in  this  respect  is  an  example  of  the  achieve¬ 
ments  of  frugality  and  honest  toil.  It  is  with 
genuine  pleasure  that  we  pen  the  l)iograi)hy  of 
those,  who  from  the  common  walks  of  life,  rise  to 
places  of  hnsiness  success  and  i)rominence ;  such 
illustrations  hut  ])rove  the  possible,  yea  certain 
rewards  in  store  for  “those  who  labor  and  who 
wait.” 

*  *  *  * 

S.KML’EE  H.  WEr.STER. 

Samuel  Hunter  Webster  came  from  that 
sturdy  New  England  ancestry  which  formed  the 
hone  and  sinew  of  the  young  republic.  Men  of 
spirit,  judgment,  stern  religious  convictions  and 
untlinching  integrity,  they  laid  the  foundations 
for  their  country’s  future  greatness. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one.  his  father.  Russell 
r>.  Webster,  set  out  from  the  parental  fireside  at 
( )tis.  Mass.,  to  win  his  fortune.  It  was  before 
the  time  of  railroads,  and  the  entire  journey  of 
over  six  hundred  miles  was  accom])lished  on 
foot.  In  those  days  an  unbroken  wilderness,  in¬ 
habited  by  Indians  and  wild  animals,  stretched 
away  to  the  west,  hut  the  young  man  and  his 
comrades  possessed  hearts  of  oak.  and  in  due 
time'  reached  the  shore  of  lake  Erie,  joining  a 
settlement  called  Wellington,  near  Cleveland.  It 
was  located  in  the  wild  belt  of  forest  known  as 
the  Western  Reserve,  or  Eire  Lands,  a  tract  of 
land  ceded  to  Connecticut  to  indemnify  her  for 
towns  burned  in  the  war  with  England.  Habita¬ 
tions  were  so  scarce  that  they  took  turns  walking 


nine  miles  to  the  nearest  house  each  week  to  get 
their  bread  baked. 

Russell  Webster  walked  hack  to  the  Ray 
state  for  his  father  and  mother,  and  again  in  1824 
for  his  bride,  ( )ri)ha  H.  Hunter,  bringing  his 
possessions  with  an  ox  team,  lie  was  a  second 
cousin  to  Xoah  Webster  of  dictionary  fame. 

Samuel  Hunter  Webster,  the  subject  (jf  this 
sketch,  first  saw  the  light  at  W  ellington,  ( )hio, 
September  25,  1825.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
children  horn  in  that  region,  and  was  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of  seven  hoys  and  one  girl.  'I'he 
sister,  Mary  Lorette  Webster,  and  a  brother, 
David  Philander  Webster,  died  in  infancy,  and 
Eldad  Rid  well  Webster  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-nine.  'I'hree  of  the  brothers  bore  arms  in 
the  Civil  war.  Edward  Eairfield  Webster  en¬ 
listed  in  the  Second  ( )hio  infantry,  and  gained 
a  lieutenancy.  Since  then  he  has  been  a  leading 
member  of  the  Horr-Warner  company,  in  his 
native  town.  Milton  Leander  Webster  enlisted 
in  the  14th  Illinois  cavalry  which  chose  him  cap¬ 
tain.  lie  was  wounded  in  the  service,  and  died 
at  Castalia.  Iowa,  in  1900.  Philander  Russell 
Webster  raised  a  company  for  the  143rd  Illinois 
infantry,  going  into  the  field  as  ca|)tain.  .\t  the 
close  of  the  war  he  entered  the  firm  of  S.  H. 
Webster  Co.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Shel- 
hyville  for  one  term,  dying  in  1884.  With  the 
tide  of  gold-seekers  which  swept  over  the  plains 
in  1858.  William  W  ilco.x  W  ehster  went  to  Colo¬ 
rado,  where  for  over  thirty  years,  he  was  exten¬ 
sively  interested  in  mining  and  cattle  raising. 
He  was  the  first  Lieutenant-Covernor  of  the 
Centennial  state.  His  present  home  is  Pasadena. 
California. 

Samuel  Hunter  Webster,  scluxiled  to  toil 
and  privation,  very  early  learned  the  lesson  of 
self-reliance.  When  but  a  hoy  of  nine  he  sold 
two  vokes  of  oxen  at  Detroit  to  ('leneral  Cass. 


297 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


lie  (leclinccl  to  take  the  general’s  cheek  because 
he  (lid  not  know  him.  After  obtaining  a  com¬ 
mon  school  education,  he  entered  a  select  school 
conducted  by  Professor  Hall,  of  (  )berlin.  lie 
taught  for  two  years  and  embarked  at  the  age  of 
twentv  in  the  business  of  shi])|)ing  fruit,  butter 
and  cheese  to  ])orts  on  lake  Michigan,  .\fter 
tilling  the  post  of  assistant  postmaster  at  \\  ell- 
ington  under  his  father,  he  went  to  Cleveland  and 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  notion  business,  de¬ 
livering  his  goods  personally  by  wagon.  His 
tei'iitory  embraced  a  large  strip  of  northern  Ohio, 
and  this  period  was  enlivened  with  many  thrilling 
e.xperiences. 

In  1856  he  married  Lucy  Ann  Jagger.  the 
eldest  daughter  of  J'ilmus  H.  and  Hannah  M. 
jagger  at  Bath,  Summit  county,  Ohio,  and  in 
the  same  year  came  to  Shelbyville  and  estab¬ 
lished  the  firm  of  Webster  &  Jagger,  which  sold 
general  merchandise  and  implements,  and 
bought  live  stock  and  grain.  .\t  that  time  Shel¬ 
byville  was  a  mere  village.  During  that  year  the 
'I'erre  Haute  and  Alton  railroad  had  been  com¬ 
pleted,  and  the  station  located  at  Moulton. 
box  car  constituted  the  station  at  Mattejon,  and 
Windsor  was  not  even  thcjught  of.  He  continued 
in  business  on  the  same  spot  for  thirty-one  years. 
In  1864  the  firm  was  changed  to  S.  H.  W’ebster 
&  Co.,  including  Philander  R.  Webster  and  Hor¬ 
ace  L.  iMartin.  iMr.  Martin  retired  in  1872  to 
edit  the  “L’nion,”  and  in  1887  Charles  M.  and 
Leverett  S.  W’ebster  succeeded  to  the  business  as 
Webster  Bros. 

In  ])olitics  Afr.  Webster  has  been  a  life-long 
rei^ublican.  He  has  ever  taken  an  earnest  and 
active  interest  in  politics,  contributing  liberally 
of  both  time  and  means  for  his  jjarty’s  sup])ort. 
He  cast  his  first  vote  for  General  Tajdor.  In  1878 
he  was  aj^pointed.  i)ostmaster  at  .Bhelbwille  by 


President  Hayes  to  succeed  Cyrus  Hall,  and  by 
President  .\rthnr  for  a  second  term. 

To  him  were  born  five  children,  Charles 
Manley  Webster,  Leverett  Samuel  Webster, 
Mary  Lorette  Webster,  Ada  Itstelle  Webster, 
and  Lucy  Belle  W  ebster,  the  latter  dying  when 
but  a  few  nujnths  old.  'I'he  first  daughter,  Mary 
Lorette.  was  married  to  Dr.  J.  C.  Westervelt. 
Charles  Manley,  the  eldest  son.  was  wedded  to 
Miss  Clara  Cairns,  and  Ada  Estelle  became  the 
wife  of  Mills  K.  Norton,  of  W'insted,  Conn. 

Mr.  W  ebster  has  always  been  regarded  as  a 
a  broad-minded,  liberal-hearted,  ])ublic-spirited 
citizen,  and  enjcjys  the  deepest  respect  of  all  who 
know  him.  Always  the  first  in  every  good  work, 
he  considered  no  sacrifice  too  great  for  the  good 
of  the  community,  and  the  needy  and  unfortunate 
could  at  all  times  count  upon  his  generous  sym¬ 
pathy  and  snp])ort.  Shelbyville  has  never  had  a 
better  friend  than  he.  His  good  nature  is  phe¬ 
nomenal,  and  his  love  (jf  humor  jirofound.  I'ew 
men  are  better  versed  in  contemporary  history, 
and  none  take  a  livelier  interest  in  current  events 
the  world  over.  In  the  ripe  years  of  age,  he  can 
look  back  with  pride  upon  a  life  of  usefulness  and 
tireless  activity  worthy  (jf  the  highest  meed  of 
inaise. 

=1:  *  * 

JOHN  CAIRNS. 

T  he  genial  gentleman  who  is  the  su])erin- 
tendent  of  Shelby  county's  greatest  mine,  is  a 
native  of  .\yershire,  Scotland,  having  been  born 
there  on  the  30th  day  of  May.  1865.  His  parents 
were  John  and  .Agues  (Leighton)  Cairns.  .\t 
the  age  of  twelve  years  our  subject  sufifered  the 
loss  of  his  mother,  and  one  year  later  he  began 
work  in  the  iron  mines  of  his  native  shire.  His 
only  educational  opiiortunities  were  limited  t(i 


298 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


the  common  school ;  indeed,  his  education  is  of 
the  practical  type,  obtained  m  the  school  of  life. 
W'hen  sixteen  years  of  age,  he,  with  his  father, 
left  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  came  to  Coal  City, 
Illinois.  For  three  years  he  worked  in  the  mines 
there,  and  thence  removed  to  the  state  of  Iowa. 

From  Iowa  he  went  to  Colorado  where  for 
seven  years  he  continued  in  the  one  work  of  his 
life.  While  in  the  west  he  was  made  overseer  of 
a  mine,  and  gradually  developed  a  fitness  for,  and 
knowledge  of  all  kinds  of  mining.  From  the 
mines  of  the  great  Rockies  he  came  here  to  Mo- 
weaqua,  where  ever  since  he  has  been  in  charge 
of  the  mine.  Mr.  Cairns  has  been  twice  married  ; 
first  to  j\Iiss  Kate  Gibson,  of  Iowa.  The  mar¬ 
riage  took  place  in  1866;  two  children  who  died 
in  infancy  were  born  to  them.  After  the  loss  of 
his  girl-wife  he  was  subsequently  married  on  the 
4th  day  of  Ai)ril,  1898.  to  Miss  Mary  Gibson,  a 
sister  of  his  former  wife.  There  is  one  child  in 
the  home — Master  Karl  Cairns,  born  on  the 
25th  day  of  January,  1899. 

In  1900  Mr.  Cairns  bult  a  fine  residence  on 
Walnut  street  where  he  now  resides.  Politically 
he  is  a  republican  ;  fraternally  an  Odd  Fellow  and 
Knight  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  father  of  our 
subject  died  here  in  Moweaqua  in  the  year  1896. 
The  possible  achievements  of  manly  toil  and 
honest  living  are  clearly  exemplified  in  the  life 
of  Mr.  Cairns.  His  present  place  of  eminence 
and  trust  is  the  result  of  his  own  persistent  and 
wisely-directed  efforts. 

*  *  *  * 

JOHN  ANGLIN. 

John  Anglin,  the  present  (1901)  democratic 
nominee  for  mayor  of  Shelbyville,  was  born  in 
Pana,  Illinois,  September  5th,  1856.  His  parents 


were  Zephaniah  and  Mary  (Igo)  .Anglin,  natives 
of  \  irginia  and  Ohio,  respectively.  Mr.  .Anglin, 
Sr.,  was  a  wagon-maker  by  trade,  but  of  him 
John  has  no  remembrance:  the  father  died  when 
our  subject  was  less  than  three  months  of  age. 
'1  he  home  being  one  in  which  wealth  was  un¬ 
known,  John  was  obliged,  at  an  early  period  in 
his  life,  to  begin  wage-earning.  He  did  jobs  of 
all  kinds,  thus  lightening  the  financial  burdens 
which  rested  so  heavily  upon  his  mother,  and,  at 
the  age  of  thirteen,  began  caring  for  the  familv. 
It  is  needless  to  state  that  his  days  in  school  were 
few,  yet,  withal,  his  life  has  not  been  a  failure, 
llefore  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
rented  a  farm,  and  thus  conducted  a  business  for 
himself :  subsequently  he  has  been  engaged  in 
contracting,  in  carrying  on  a  saw  mill,  and  in 
the  ice  and  cold  storage  business  which  he  still 
conducts.  On  Christmas  day,  1880,  he  was  mar¬ 
ried  to  Nancy  Fisher,  a  resident  of  this  county. 
'I  hey  are  the  parents  of  ten  children,  four  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  or  early  childhood.  The 
names  of  the  others  we  subjoin  :  Lewis  1 1.,  who 
is  traveling  salesman  for  the  broom  factory  :  John 
F..  Daisy  Naomi,  David  Z.,  Roy  and  Orville. 

Mr.  .Anglin  is  a  member  of  the  1.  O.  O.  F., 
and  Modern  Woodman  lodges :  he  has  also  been 
a  member  of  the  city  council  for  two  terms,  and 
street  commissioner  for  two  years.  He  is  now 
branching  out  in  a  new  line  of  work,  and  is,  with 
the  Hoys  Pros.,  the  owner  of  the  new  broom  fac¬ 
tory.  Mr.  Anglin  is  the  business  manager  for 
the  new  concern.  It  is  to  start  with  an  output  of 
thirty  dozen  l)rooms  per  day.  and  increase  its  ca- 
jiacity  as  rapidly  as  business  conditions  may 
warrant.  Mr.  .Anglin  is  a  pleasant  man  to  meet 
and  he  must  enjoy  the  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen  in  order  to  be  named  for  such  a  posi¬ 
tion  as  mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  ever  voted  with 
the  democratic  party. 


299 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


JAMES  1).  COCHRAN. 

James  Cochran,  the  grandfather  of  our  suh- 
ject,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war ;  he 
served  under  Generals  Marion  and  Morgan  and 
received  a  severe  wound  in  the  battle  of  Cow- 
l)ens.  He  came  with  his  son,  John,  Jr.,  to  this 
county  in  the  year  1825,  and  settled  in  what  is 
now  Ash  Grove  township — it  was  then  known  as 
‘‘Cochran’s  Grove.”  He  died  at  the  age  of 
ninety-two  years,  and  so  far  as  is  known,  he  is 
the  only  Revolutionary  soldier  who  lies  buried  in 
Shelby  county.  John.  Jr.,  was  a  native  of  Ken¬ 
tucky,  and,  after  coming  here,  took  for  his  wife 
Sarah  Bateman,  a  young  woman  horn  in  the  Ter¬ 
ritory  of  Illinois.  Their  marriage  was  the  first 
ever  solemnized  in  this  county.  May  3d,  1827, 
was  the  date.  To  John  and  wife  were  horn  nine 
children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Cochran  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
James  of  whom  we  write  w'as  the  third  child  in 
his  father’s  family ;  he  grew  up  as  did  other  hoys 
of  that  period,  without  much  mental  training,  hut 
was  inured  to  physical  toil  and  hardship.  With 
some  degree  of  pride  he  asserts  that  an  uncle, 
Daniel  Price,  was  one  of  the  commissioners 
chosen  to  select  the  site  for  the  seat  of  Shelby 
county.  In  addition  to  his  work  on  the  farm 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  through¬ 
out  his  life  has  done  some  work  in  that  line. 
November  28th,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  54th 
Ill.  Vol.,  and  not  until  October  15th,  1865,  did 
he  receive  his  discharge.  His  place  was  that  of 
a  corporal  throughout  his  period  of  service ; 
much  of  the  time  he  was  employed  in  scouting 
and  skirmishing  under  Gen.  Steele. 

On  the  I2th  day  of  November,  after  his  dis¬ 
charge  from  the  army,  he  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Anna  L.  Hull,  of  Windsor  township. 
She  with  her  father,  Peter  by  name,  came  from 
Pennsylvania,  in  1854.  Three  children  blessed 
this  union  ;  John  W.,  a  resident  of  St.  Elmo, 


in  the  employ  of  the  C.  &  E.  I.  railroad;  Sarah 
M  .,  who  passed  from  earth  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two,  in  the  very  flower  of  her  young  woman¬ 
hood  ;  and  James  F.,  a  fireman  on  the  road  above 
named.  Since  the  war  Mr.  Cochran  has  been 
broken  in  health  and  has  busied  himself  with 
such  employment  as  he  has  been  able  to  i)crform. 
For  many  years  himself  and  wife  have  been  de¬ 
voted  members  of  the  Christian  church.  Their 
end  is  drawing  on,  but  they  are  making  toward 
a  peaceful  heaven  ;  their  lives  have  been  long, 
and  we  have  yet  to  hear  them  ill-spoken  of. 
Surely  they  have  not  lived  in  vain. 

*  *  j(: 

JOHN  C.  CALVERT. 

The  name  Calvert  will  ever  be  remembered 
in  the  history  of  Shelby  county.  William,  the 
father  of  the  one  of  whom  we  write,  was  the 
second  male  white  child  horn  within  the  county  s 
limits :  the  date  of  his  birth  being  March  8th, 
1827.  Mr.  Calvert  lived  until  February,  1889. 
and  was  familiar  with  the  entire  history  and  de¬ 
velopment  of  the  county.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Martha  E.  Marts,  born  May  29th, 
1832,  in  Sullivan  county,  Indiana.  John  was 
reared  upon  his  father’s  farm  in  Ridge  township, 
having  been  born  there  May  27th,  1833.  He  at¬ 
tended  the  district  school,  but  through  close  aj)- 
plication  to  his  books  received  rather  more  than 
the  education  commonly  furnished  by  such  insti¬ 
tutions.  For  a  period  of  eighteen  years  he 
worked  the  home  farm  and  was  so  successful  in 
the  management  of  this  that  in  1889  he  pur¬ 
chased  the  farm  in  Ridge  township — Section  1 1 
— which  he  still  owns.  September  13th,  1874,  he 
was  joined  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia,  daughter 
of  Josiah  Gardner  of  this  county.  This  couple 
are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  living  are:  John  C.,  who 
assists  his  father  in  the  management  of  the  farm  ; 
Sidney  C.,  and  Cora  M.  Mr.  Calvert  moved  to 


300 


\ 

BIOGRAPH/ES. 


Shelby ville  in  1890  and  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  for  a  period  of  four  years ;  ill  health 
caused  him  to  return  to  his  farm.  The  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  the  community  in  which 
he  lives  may  be  inferred  from  the  official  posi¬ 
tions  which  he  has  held,  viz :  Supervisor  for  two 
terms,  Collector  for  two  years,  and  Town  Clerk 
for  one  year.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church  ;  he  is  also  a  member  of 
some  fraternal  and  insurance  organizations.  A 
leading  citizen  of  the  township  said  to  the  writer, 
“I  consider  John  Calvert  as  one  of  our  very  best 
men.” 

*  *  *  * 

CYRUS  S.  WEAKLY. 

Thirty-four  years  ago  the  19th  of  A])ril. 
1900,  the  one  of  whom  we  pen  this  sketch,  Cyrus 
S.  Weakly  was  born,  in  Ridge  township,  on  the 
farm  of  his  father,  A.  P.  Weakly,  of  whom  a 
biographical  sketch  ap])ears  on  another  page  of 
this  volume.  His  boyhood  days  passed  much  as 
do  those  of  most  boys — full  of  pleasures  and 
little  duties  in  the  school  and  in  the  home,  yet 
uneventful  withal.  He  ])rofited  well  by  the  in¬ 
struction  received  in  the  district  schools,  and  ac¬ 
quired  a  good,  ordinary  education.  He  was  ever 
interested  in  farming,  however,  so  did  not  i)ur- 
sue  his  studies  beyond  the  common  schools,  but 
early  began  the  tilling  of  the  soil. 

On  the  first  of  May  following  his  twenty- 
first  birthday.  Mr.  Weakly  was  united  in  mar¬ 
riage  to  Miss  Clara  Moll,  of  Obed,  who  was  born 
January  8th,  1867.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  Moll,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Shelby  county.  The  maid¬ 
en  name  of  Mrs.  Moll  was  Caroline  Wolf,  a  na¬ 
tive  of  Ohio. 


working  for  himself  80  acres  of  it.  This  is  the 
farm  which  his  brother.  Elmer,  now  works.  In 
the  fall  of  1887,  they  removed  to  Obed,  where 
they  now  live,  settling  upon  a  farm  owned  bv 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Weakly.  This  farm  was  an  ex¬ 
tensive  one,  containing  about  three  hundred 
ten  acres.  L’pon  this  farm,  in  1890,  Mr.  Weakly 
began  the  feeding  of  stock  and  has  found  it  a 
very  profitable  and  lucrative  business.  He  con¬ 
ducts  the  enterprise  systematically,  and  gets  out 
of  it  the  greatest  profit  obtainable.  He  is  now 
feeding  eighty-one  head  of  cattle,  and  two  hun¬ 
dred  hogs ;  and  he  has  purchased  twelve  thou¬ 
sand  bushels  of  corn  for  this  winter’s  feeding. 

Mr.  Weakly  is  a  republican  m  ])olitics.  but 
has  never  sought  any  political  office.  He  is, 
however,  serving  as  the  present  school  director 
of  the  district  in  which  he  lives.  'He  is  of  a 
modest  disposition,  and  yet  is  one  of  the  most 
public-spirited  men  of  his  section  of  the  county — 
always  ready  and  even  eager  to  aid  by  his  in¬ 
fluence  and  means  any  enterjirise  which  is  for 
the  public  good.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
County  Telephone  company,  and  is  in  connection 
with  the  outside  world  by  having  a  ’])hone  in  his 
farm  residence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weakly  are  members  of  the 
L’nited  Brethren  church,  and  are  faithful  in  the 
performance  of  their  religious  duties.  They  are 
known  far  and  wide  for  their  genial,  cordial  hos¬ 
pitality.  and  many  are  they  who  have  found  a 
hearty  welcome  in  the  Weakly  home. 

Four  beautifid  children  have  been  born  to 
this  couple,  and  all  are  living  to  bless  the  home 
circle.  Their  names,  in  the  order  of  their  births, 
are  as  follows:  Bessie,  born  April  16,  188?: 
Ruby  May,  born  May  18.  1892;  Lloyd, 

and  Mary  Hazel.  Bessie  and  Ruby  are  both  in 
school,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W'eakly  are  justly 
l)roud  of  the  whole  four  children. 


For  six  months  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
M'eakly  lived  upon  his  father’s  farm,  renting  and 


301 


DIOGRAPH/ES. 


\ 


WILLIAM  WHITWORTH. 

William  Whitworth,  who,  as  a  sagacious, 
skillful  farmer,  has  helped  to  make  Shelby  coun¬ 
ty  a  rich,  well-developed  agricultural  centre,  has 
at  the  same  time  accjuired  a  valuable  property, 
and  not  only  owns  a  fine  farm  within  the  corpor¬ 
ate  limits  of  the  city  of  Moweacjua,  but  has  here 
a  handsome,  well-appointed  residence,  in  which 
he  lives  in  retirement  from  active  business.  He 
is  a  native  of  I’erry  county,  Indiana,  born  May 
25,  1838,  a  son  of  Abraham  Whitworth,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  1807.  The  father  of  the  lat¬ 
ter,  also  named  Abraham,  was  likewise  a  native 
of  X’irginia,  and  was  the  son  of  an  Englishman, 
who  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  the  ( )ld 
Dominion  in  colonial  times,  si)ending  the  re¬ 
mainder  of  his  life  there. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  went  from 
his  native  state  to  Tennessee  with  his  family  in 
1 81 1,  and  after  a  two  years’  sojourn  in  the  wil¬ 
derness  in  that  state,  he  proceeded  northward 
into  Breckenridge  county,  Kentucky,  where  he 
in  time  cleared  a  farm  from  the  timber,  and 
there  closed  his  early  pilgrimage.  He  married 
Xancy  Board,  who  was  born  in  X'irginia  and 
died  in  Kentucky. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  scarcely  more 
than  a  babe  when  his  parents  took  up  their  abode 
in  Kentucky,  and  he  grew  to  a  vigorous  man¬ 
hood  under  the  infiuences  of  the  rough  pioneer 
life  of  those  days.  When  he  became  a  young 
man  he  too  became  a  pioneer,  selecting  the  more 
newly  settled  state  of  Indiana  as  the  scene  of  his 
operations,  and  he  there  took  unto  himself  a  wife 
— Miss  Martha  Gregory — uniting  her  life  with 
his.  She  was  also  a  native  of  \’irginia,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Peter  and  IMary  (Dobson)  Greg¬ 
ory,  natives  of  \hrginia,.  the  latter  a  daughter  of 
William  O.  Dobson,  also  a  \*irginian.  After  mar¬ 
riage,  Mr.  Whitworth,  who  had  formerly  been  a 


pilot  on  a  fiat-boat  that  plied  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississijjpi  rivers,  commencing  life  at  boating 
when  quite  young,  turned  his  attention  to  farm¬ 
ing.  In  1861  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  on 
a  tract  of  land  that  he  bought  in  Moweaqua 
township,  located  four  miles  east  of  the  village, 
where  he  resided  until  his  life  was  rounded  out 
in  death  in  July,  1864.  His  wife  survived  him 
until  the  following  year,  and  then  she  too  passed 
away,  dying  in  the  month  of  December.  She  was 
the  mother  of  eight  children  that  were  reared  to 
maturity. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  passed 
amid  the  scenes  of  his  birth.  He  came  to  Shelby 
county  in  1858,  and  he  began  his  career  here 
by  working  out  by  the  day  or  month.  Prudently 
.saving  his  earnings,  in  1864  he  invested  in  80 
acres  of  good  farming  land  four  and  one-half 
miles  northwest  of  the  village  of  Moweacpia  and 
later  added  to  it  40  acres  more.  He  resided  on 
that  jilace  several  years,  devoting  his  energies  to 
its  improvement,  and  when  he  left  it  in  1886  to 
take  up  his  abode  in  the  city  he  had  placed  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  had  made 
of  it  a  well-ordered  farm.  He  came  to  Moweaqua 
in  the  year  mentioned,  bought  i)roi)erty,  and  in 
i8yo  erected  his  present  commcKlious  residence, 
which  is  built  after  plans  drawn  by  himself  and 
wife,  is  very  conveniently  arranged  and  is  an  or¬ 
nament  to  the  city.  He  also  has  a  fine  farm  ad¬ 
vantageously  located  within  the  limits  of  this 
municipality,  which  contains  64  acres  of  well- 
tilled  land,  and  is  amply  supplied  with  buildings 
and  everything  needful  for  its  successful  cultiva¬ 
tion. 

Mr.  Whitworth  has  been  twice  married. 
In  1861  he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Sarah  Lamb, 
a  native  of  Richland  county,  Illinois.  Their  brief, 
but  happy  union  was  closed  by  her  death  in  1864. 
She  left  two  children,  Clara  and  Alice.  Clara 
married  William  Landram  and  has  two  children. 


302 


DIOGRAPH/ES. 


Alice  married  James  Chance,  and  has  four  chil¬ 
dren.  The  present  estimable  wife  of  onr  subject, 
to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  1866.  was 
formerly  Miss  Isabella  Doyle.  She  is  a  native 
of  Macoupin  county,  this  state,  and  a  daughter 
of  E.  M.  Doyle. 

For  some  time  prior  to  her  marriage  Mrs. 
Whitworth  had  acted  as  correspondent  for  news¬ 
papers,  which  training  was  now  to  serve  her 
most  faithfully.  Her  husband  had  been  instru¬ 
mental  in  founding  a  republican  paper  in  Mo- 
weaqua,  which  had  been  unsuccessfully  pub¬ 
lished  and  edited  by  different  persons.  Mrs. 
Whitworth  saw  her  opportunity  and  embraced  it ; 
she  assumed  the  management  of  the  paper,  and 
put  out  her  first  number  on  the  1 1  th  day  of  ( )c- 
tober,  1894.  Since  the  appearance  of  this  first 
number  the  paper  has  steadily  grown  in  favor 
among  the  people  of  the  county,  and  today  is 
one  of  the  very  foremost  leading  republican  or¬ 
gans  in  this  section.  There  is  a  subscription  list 
of  over  eight  hundred,  and  the  ])resent  excellent 
standing  of  the  pajjer  is  due  to  Mrs.  Whitworth's 
indefatigable  efforts  and  splendid  abilitv.  We 
have  found  her  a  versatile,  entertaining  lady. 

i\lr.  Whitworth,  as  we  have  seen,  has  be¬ 
come  one  of  the  i)ros])erous  citizens  of  this 
county  through  the  exercise  of  good  mental  and 
])hysical  endowment.  He  is  a  gentleman  of 
good  principles  and  blameless  life,  who  is  justly 
held  in  high  consideration  by  his  neighbors  and 
associates,  and  in  him  the  Baptist  church  has  a 
conscientious,  right-living  member,  his  wife  also 
belonging  to  that  church,  and  identifying  herself 
with  its  best  efforts  to  elevate  the  moral  status 
of  the  community.  As  a  loyal  and  true-heared 
citizen  should,  our  subject  interests  himself  in 
politics,  and  is  a  staunch  adherent  of  the  republi¬ 
can  party. 


JAS.  -K.  AXD  MICHAEL  MONTGOMERY. 

The  brothers  whose  names  head  this  sketch 
bear  a  name  well  known  throughout  the  county. 
They  are  two  of  ten  children  born  into  the  home 
of  Dr.  John  and  Mariah  Barbara  (.-Mien)  Mont¬ 
gomery. 

i\lr.  Montgomery  emigrated  to  Illinois  with 
his  father.  Michael,  and  family,  in  1822,  and  to 
Bark  Co..Ind..in  1824.  In  1838  he  was  married  to 
Mariah  Barbara  Allen,  who  was  born  in  Scott 
county,  \'a.,  on  the  8th  of  April.  1818,  and 
moved  with  her  parents.  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Summers)  .Alien  to  Fountain  Co..  Indiana, 
about  1826,  locating  on  “Wolf  Creek."  Xoth- 
ing  now  remains  of  the  old  double  log  house 
which  they  built,  but  the  old  log  church  still 
stands  on  the  homestead,  and  near  it  is  the  oldest 
cemetery  in  that  county,  the  first  grave  being 
dug  for  Isaac  Allen  in  1832.  He  was  a  Revolu¬ 
tionary  soldier,  and  father  of  the  Thomas  .Allen 
mentioned.  Mrs.  .Allen's  father  was  a  jjatriot  in 
the  Revolution,  as  were  also  two  of  the  broth¬ 
ers  of  Grandfather  Michael  .Montgomery. 

From  Park  county,  Indiana.  Dr.  Montgom¬ 
ery  brought  his  family  to  Westfield,  Illinois,  in 
1859,  and  in  .April,  1864.  removed  to  Windsor, 
this  county.  He  was  a  self-made  man  and  phy¬ 
sician.  Three  weeks  comprised  all  his  school 
days,  but  he  was  a  great  student  and  made  his 
medical  books  his  companions.  His  death  oc¬ 
curred  May  2,  1889,  and  on  December  5th,  1892. 
his  faithful  wife  followed  him  to  the  great  un¬ 
seen.  These  Montgomerys  trace  their  ancestry 
(unwritten)  to  three  brothers,  Scotch- Presbyter¬ 
ians.  who  came  to  this  country  from  the  north 
of  Ireland  during  early  colonization  davs. 

J.AAIES 

spent  his  boyhood  days  in  attending  school,  and 
in  workingabout  his  father's  office  and  on  a  farm. 


J 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


After  he  had  finislied  his  work  in  the  coninion 
schools,  he  further  fitted  liimself  for  a  life  of 
usefulness  by  pursuing;  advanced- studies  in  Lin¬ 
coln  University,  Lincoln,  111.,  and  in  the  West¬ 
minster  Collef^e,  Fulton,  Mo.  For  a  period  of 
fourteen  years  he  was  a  successful  teacher  in 
])ublic  schools ;  for  seven  years,  his  labors  were 
confined  to  his  native  state,  and  for  a  like  time 
to  the  schools  in  this  county.  He  taug;ht  for 
three  years  in  the  Windsor  g;raded  school,  two  of 
which  he  was  the  principal.  He  also  had  charg;e 
(jf  the  school  in  Stewardson  for  two  years.  He 
is  now  serving;  his  second  consecutive  term  as 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools.  In  this  ca- 
pacitv  he  has  done  g;ood  work  ;  and  the  present 
excellent  corps  of  teachers  throug;hout  the  coun¬ 
ty  are  the  product  of  his  faithful  and  careful  ad¬ 
ministration.  The  fairness  and  honesty  of  his 
official  conduct  we  have  never  heard  (piestioned. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  1.  O.  C^.  F.  and 
Woodman  lodges,  and  both  himself  and  brother 
are  members  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  K.  of  P. 
orders.  In  politics  they  have  both  been  demo¬ 
crats  throughout  their  lives ;  but  never  have  they 
been  bitter  and  narrow  partisians. 

MICFIAEL 

had,  in  addition  to  a  district  school  training,  a 
course  of  instruction  in  the  Academy  at  Wave- 
land,  Ind.,  and  at  W'estfield,  Ill.  He  also  en¬ 
gaged  in  teaching  school,  which  calling  he  fol¬ 
lowed  for  some  years,  both  here  and  in  his  native 
state.  It  may  be  because  of  his  father’s  profes¬ 
sion,  Michael  early  developed  a  fondness  for  the 
drug  business.  Lie  clerked  some  time  in  the 
store  of  G.  W.  Logan,  in  Windsor,  in  1865 — '66, 
and  has  been  identified  with  the  drug  trade  of 
that  place  for  more  than  a  third  of  a  century. 

Michael  has  been  twice  married;  First  to 
Miss  Orphia  McB.  Kinney,  of  Windsor,  in  1876. 
Two  children  were  born  of  this  marriage,  Thur¬ 


man  and  Ral])h  ;  his  second  marriage  occurred 
in  1894,  at  which  time  Mrs.  Hattie  Grider,  nee 
Odenweller,  became  his  wife.  Two  children 
have  been  born  to  them  ;  the  first,  little  Ralph, 
almost  thret  months  old,  was  called  to  the  better 
land;  the  other,  Helen,  nearly  three  years  old, 
now  cheers  their  home. 

In  addition  to  the  lodges  before  named, 
Michael  is  also  a  Knight  Tem])lar.  I'or  twenty- 
five  years  he  has  been  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church.  Roth  these 
brothers  are  affable,  courteous,  cultured  gentle¬ 
men.  They  stand  well  in  their  respective  com¬ 
munities  and  throughout  the  county.  Our  short 
acciuaintanceship  with  them  has  but  created  the 
desire  to  make  it  life-long. 

*  *  * 

WILLIAM  H.  CRAIG. 

The  greater  i)ortion  of  the  following  sketch 
was  current  in  the  ])ai)ers  at  the  time  our  subject 
was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

From  the  Chicago  Legal  News,  of  Decem¬ 
ber  1 8th,  1897; 

“The  State  Hoard  of  Law  Examiners  con¬ 
sisted  of  Judge  W'all,  of  Du  Quoin,  president; 
Mr.  Julius  Rosenthal,  of  Chicago,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  Judge  Branson,  of  Petersburg,  Judge 
Wright,  of  Effingham,  and  Mr.  Stearns,  of  Eree- 
port,  all  gentlemen  of  culture  and  well  qualified 
for  the  different  positions  to  which  they  have 
been  assigned. 

“The  first  examination  of  law  students  be¬ 
fore  the  State  Board  of  Law  Examiners  has  at¬ 
tracted  the  attention  of  members  of  the  bench 
and  bar  throughout  the  state.  This  was  the  in¬ 
auguration  of  the  new  rule  adopted  by  the  Su¬ 
preme  Court  providing  an  extra  year  of  study 
and  additional  scholastic  requirements.  The  fact 
that  the  examiners  themselves  had  promulgated 


304 


CHARLES  M.  FLEMING. 


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.  DIOGRAPH/ES. 


no  rules  had  a  tendency  to  prevent  many  appli¬ 
cants  from  applying.  W'hen  the  board  was  de¬ 
clared  open  for  the  commencement  of  the  ex- 
aniination  at  Mt.  \'ernon  on  December  7th,  1897. 
and  the  roll  called,  it  was  found  that  only  six 
persons  had  the  courage  to  appear  before  the 
board  and  attempt  to  take  the  examination. 
These  were  examined  on  Tuesday  and  W’ednes- 
day  mornings  by  written  and  oral  examinations, 
which  ended  at  i  o'clock  Wednesday.  The  sub¬ 
jects  upon  which  the  applicants  were  e.xamined 
embraced  the  whole  range  of  subjects  prescribed 
by  the  new  rule  of  the  Supreme  Court.  The 
Hoard  of  Examiners  were  in  consultation  from  2 
until  1 1  o’clock  on  Wednesday,  and  from  9  until 
10:30  on  Thursday.  \\'hen  the  applicants  had 
been  dismissed  and  the  members  of  the  board 
had  passed  upon  the  papers  they  found  that  five 
out  of  six  had  failed  to  pass  the  examination  in 
accordance  with  the  new  rule  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  that  only  one  out  of  the  six  had  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  passing  the  new  ordeal  with  Hying 
colors,  and  that  one  was  William  H.  Craig,  of 
Shelbyville.  It  is  certainly  a  great  honor  to  Mr. 
Craig  to  have  ])assed  through  this,  the  first  ex¬ 
amination  under  the  new  rule,  successfullv,  and 

4  ■ 

it  can  now  be  said  of  him  that  he  is  the  first  and 
only  applicant  that  ever  passed  the  e.xamination 
of  the  new  board. 

“Of  course  members  of  the  bar  and  students 
are  more  or  less  interested  in  knowing  the  facts 
relating  to  the  life  of  Mr.  Craig  and  the  studies 
he  has  pursued,  and  how  it  happened  that  he  was 
the  only  one  that  succeeded.  He  certainly,  out¬ 
side  of  the  law,  had  a  very  general  knowledge 
of  men  and  things ;  was  strong  in  mind  and 
body  and  able  to  pass  the  ordeal. 

“William  H.  Craig,  the  leader  of  the  mighty 
host  of  applicants  that  is  bound  to  follow  here¬ 
after  along  this  line,  was  born  in  Shelbyville.  Illi¬ 
nois,  November  15th.  1863.  His  father.  Dr.  Wil¬ 


liam  T.  Craig,  came  from  Kentucky,  and  died 
when  William  was  only  nine  months  old.  His 
mother,  Emma  McMorris,  came  from  Ohio,  and 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  .\fter  the  death 
of  his  father,  the  mother.  William  and  his  brother 
lived  on  the  farm.  William  attending  the  country 
schools  until  the  age  of  twelve,  when  he 
entered  the  public  schools  of  Shelbyville  and 
graduated  from  the  High  school  at  that  place  in 
May,  1880.  at  the  age  of  16.  In  1881  and  1883. 
he  took  a  partial  course  in  the  Wesleyan  Univer¬ 
sity  at  Illoomington.  He  was  a  clerk  in  a  drug 
store  one  year;  in  1884  and  1885,  he  worked  one 
year  in  the  office  of  J.  W.  Lloyd  at  abstracting; 
in  1886 — 7,  he  made  a  complete  set  of  abstract 
indices  of  Shelby  county,  and  since  that  time, 
with  R.  L.  Caris.  has  done  the  ])rincipal  abstract 
l)usiness  in  that  county.  In  1888.  he  was  mar¬ 
ried  to  Pauline  Penwell.  daughter  of  Dr.  Penwell. 
In  1892.  he  commenced  studying  law  evenings 
and  all  the  time  during  the  day  he  could  devote 
to  it  without  injuring  his  business,  under  Judge 
T.  E.  Ames,  then  County  Judge,  now  Circuit 
Judge.  Mr.  Craig  read  Illackstone,  Kent,  Story 
on  Contracts,  Story’s  Equity  Pleading.  Smith 
and  llishop  on  Contracts,  Gould  and  Stevens  on 
Pleadings,  llishop’s  Criminal  Law.  Greenleaf  on 
Evidence,  Underhill  on  Evidence,  Martindale  on 
Conveyances  and  Abstracts,  Chitty’s  Pleadings 
and  the  Statutes  of  the  State. 

"Mr  Craig  will  devote  his  time  to  probate 
ami  chancery  practice ;  but  he  will  still  continue 
his  abstract  business,  which  is  a  valuable  prop¬ 
erty. 

“The  members  of  the  legal  profession  and 
business  men  of  Shelbyville  speak  in  the  highest 
terms  of  Mr.  Craig  as  a  gentleman  of  excellent 
judgment  and  the  strictest  integrity. 

“Strictly  speaking.  Mr.  Craig  is  the  only  one 
of  his  kind.  He  has  passed  through  an  ordeal 
that  no  one  in  the  state  was  ever  subjected  to  be- 


305 


D/OGRAPHIES. 


fore.  A  year  had  l)een  added  to  tlie  course  and 
other  requirements.  He  stands  alone  in  his  law 
examination,  hut  it  will  not  be  long  before  he  will 
have  hundreds  of  followers.” 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craig  are  the  i)arents  of  two 
children;  Lewis  P.,  born  ( ictober  2(1,  i88(j,  and 
Miriam,  horn  December  i6th,  i8(j6.  Mr.  Craig 
dissolved  partnership  with  Mr.  Garis,  above  men¬ 
tioned.  on  the  22(1  of  Alarch,  lyoi,  and  now  is 
the  sole  manager  of  the  abstract  office ;  he  also 
writes  insurance.  Fraternally  he  is  a  K.  of  P. 
and  politically  a  re])uhlican.  Mr!  Craig  is  a  gen¬ 
ial,  kin(llv-(lis])Ose(l,  and  courteous  gentleman  to 
meet,  and  with  his  estimable  wife  moves  in  Shel- 
hyville's  l)est  society. 

*  *  * 

CONRAD  EILKR  AND  SONS. 

Conrad,  the  youngest  son  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  Filer,  was  born  in  Pickaway  Co., 
Ohio,  September  13th,  1815.  These  parents  were 
natives  of  Hesse,  Germany,  Mr.  Filer  coming  to 
Paltimore,  Aid.,  shortly  after  Napoleon's  great 
defeat  of  the  allied  armies  which  o])pose(l  him. 
Before  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  Air. 
Filer  settled  in  Ohio,  where  his  children  were  all 
born.  The  state  of  Ohio  was  then  regarded  as 
the  far  west.  Conrad  was  the  youngest  child  in 
this  frontier  home,  and  was  inured  to  the  priva¬ 
tions,  dangers  and  hardships  incident  to  rural 
life  in  those  early  days.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  began  serving  an  apprenticeship  to  a  miller, 
and  after  seven  years  of  toil  received  as  a  com¬ 
pensation  one  hundred  dollars  in  cash,  besides 
having  been  given  si.x  months  schooling.  This 
sum  of  money,  quite  a  competency  for  that  day, 
was  invested  in  a  farm  of  80  acres  of  land.  This 
farm  was  subsequently  sold  for  five  hundred  dol¬ 
lars,  which  transaction  was  but  a  prophecy  of  the 
business  success  that  was  to  characterize  our 


subject  in  after  years.  ( )n  the  26th  day  of  Aug¬ 
ust,  1841,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Afary  .Anderson,  of  his  own  native  township. 
Five  children,  all  sons,  were  born  of  this  mar¬ 
riage.  The  names  of  three  follow ;  the  other  two 
are  subjoined  under  separate  sketches  :  William, 
the  eldest  has  never  been  married.  His  home  is 
with  his  father,  and  he  is  engaged  in  farm- 
management  and  money-lending.  He  is  the 
(jwner  of  (j8o  acres  of  good  land.  He  did  valiant 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  somewhat  broken  in  health.  Lewis  was 
also  a  s(3l(lier.  His  home  is  in  Shelby ville,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  real  estate  business.  I  le  has 
been  twice  married;  Aliss  Julia  Sharrock  being 
his  first  wife,  and  Aliss  Zoro  Boone  his  ])resent 
com])anion.  John  R.,  the  husband  (jf  Catherine 
llanson,  is  a  farmer  near  Pana,  Ill.. 

The  father  of  these  sons  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  about  two  miles  west  of  Tower  Hill  in 
the  year  184(4.  There  he  lived  until  he  removed 
to  a  farm  just  south  of  the  village  last  named, 
and  from  thence  to  the  place  of  his  present  abode 
in  the  south  part  of  the  village.  Air.  Filer  was 
converted  to  God  early  in  life  and  in  a  striking 
manner.  The  great  change  came  to  him  in  over¬ 
powering  fulness,  while  he  was  at  work  in  the 
field.  For  sixty-eight  years  he  has  been  a  de¬ 
voted  member  in  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and,  since  he  was  thirty  years  of  age,  until  de¬ 
prived  of  active  strength,  he  was  a  licensed  local 
preacher  in  said  denomination. 

On  the  29th  day  of  June,  1865,  he  suffered 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  and  on  the  5th  day  of  Alarch, 
1896,  met  with  a  further  misfortune  in  an  acci¬ 
dent  which  has  since  made  it  impossible  for  him 
to  walk.  Air.  Filer  has  been  a  prominent  man 
in  his  township ;  for  thirty-five  years  he  served  in 
the  capacity  of  treasurer,  and  for  several 
terms  as  supervisor.  Since  the  Civil  war  he  has 
been  an  ardent  republican.  In  business  he  was 


306 


V 


I 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


successful,  having  owned  more  than  300  acres 
of  land ;  but,  long  since,  he  has  divided  all  such 
interests  among  his  successful  sons.  While  one 
year  would  number  all  the  days  he  ever  spent  m 
school,  he  is,  notwithstanding,  a  well  informed 
man.  In  no  other  field  is  his  knowledge  more 
ripe  than  in  that  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Since 
his  fall,  five  years  ago,  he  has  read  the  Bible 
through  each  year.  He  might  seem  to  some  on 
first  sight,  as  old  and  lonely,  but  he  is  neither ; 
“His  youth  is  renewed  like  the  eagles"  and  the 
L'nseen  Friend  is  ever  with  him.  His  life  has 
been  long  and  useful ;  and,  as  the  setting  sun 
casts  a  halo  upon  the  dark  clouds,  even  after  its 
disc  has  dipped  below  the  horizon,  so  the  setting 
sun  of  Conrad  Filer’s  life,  lights  up  the  counten¬ 
ances  of  those  with  wlrom  he  comes  in  contact, 
and  will  continue  to  glow  in  the  lives  of  many, 
even  after  his  chair  is  vacant. 

ASA. 

Asa  Filer  was  born  in  Tower  Hill  township. 
June  13th,  1857.  He  was  reared  upon  his  fath¬ 
er's  farm  and  attended  the  district  school.  Such 
good  use  did  he  make  of  the  meager  privileges 
he  enjoyed,  that  in  early  life  he  was  ennabled  to 
begin  teaching  school,  which  vocation  he  fol¬ 
lowed  from  1876  to  1879.  On  the  25th  day  of 
September,  1878.  he  was  joined  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Funity  J.  Corley.  One  child,  Walter  ()., 
was  born  to  them.  He  afterward  married  Miss 
Rhoda  Moutooth,  of  Lakewood.  On  the  ist  day 
of  May.  1883,  Mr.  Filer  lost,  by  death,  his  be¬ 
loved  wife.  Subsequently,  on  the  29th  day  of 
Jan.,  1885,  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Sun- 

derman,  of  Fairfield  Co.,  Ohio.  One  little  girl, 
Fsther  by  name,  was  born  to  them  on  the  13th 
day  of  December,  1889. 

Mr.  Filer  lives  in  a  fine  residence  of  his  own 
in  the  village  of  Tower  Hill,  and  with  his  wife 
is  the  owner  of  four  hundred  forty  acres  of  good 


land.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood¬ 
men.  He  knows  but  one  political  faith ; 
he  is  a  re])ublican.  In  the  year  1872  he  was  con¬ 
verted  to  God  and  united  with  the  church.  For 
si.xteen  consecutive  years  he  has  been  an  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  his  village.  Mr. 
Filer  and  wife  are  highly  resjjccted ;  they  are 
known  and  recognized  as  people  of  worth,  and 
are  worthy  representatives  of  the  name  Filer 
which  is  so  widely  known  throughout  the 
county. 

THOMAS  C. 

Pickaway  county.  ( )hio.  was  the  birthplace 
of  'I'liomas  C.  Filer,  and  Se])tember  13th,  1848, 
was  the  date.  He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  par¬ 
ents  and  lived  u])on  a  farm,  attending  the  district 
school  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  He 
was  characterized  by  an  intense  love  for  books 
and  at  last  entered  the  Westfield  College,  where 
he  completed  the  Xornial  and  Scientific  courses 
of  study,  thus  fitting  himself  for  the  profession  of 
teaching,  in  whicli  he  became  a  recognized  suc¬ 
cess.  For  three  years  he  was  principal  of  his 
home  schools,  and  afterward  taught  at  .Assump¬ 
tion  and  X’ermillion.  Illinois.  During  the  sum¬ 
mers  he  engaged  in  institute  work.  ( )n  the  9th 
day  of  Sept..  1876,  he  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Beulah  L..  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Margaret  Pugh,  who  were  pioneers  in  Shelby 
county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Filer  five  children  have 
been  born  :  William  R.,  wbo  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  ;  Charles  R.,  now  a  student  in  Westfield 
College;  Mary  ().,  who  will  be  graduated,  this 
year,  from  the  Shelbyville  High  school;  Dwi  ght 
M..  and  Thomas  Believing  that  there  is  no 
better  place  than  the  country  districts  in  which 
children  may  spend  their  early  years,  Mr.  Filer, 
in  the  year  1885  moved  upon  a  farm  two  miles 
northwest  of  Tower  Hill,  and  engaged  in  general 


307 


BIOGRAPH/ES. 


farniiii"  and  stock-raising^.  In  tliis  line  lie  was 
eminently  successful.  After  a  lajise  of  ei,y[liteen 
years  of  farm  manag'ement  he  found  himself  the 
owner  of  over  six  hundred  acres  of  j^ood  land, 
which  was  well  improved  and  stocked.  Mr.  Kiler 
is  now  a  resident  of  vShelbyville,  liavinj.^  moved 
into  the  city  to  afford  his  children  better  educa¬ 
tional  advantages.  He  is.  with  his  brother 
Lewis,  doing  a  flourishing  real  estate  business. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  L’nited  brethren 
church  and  is  devoted  to  the  Master's  cause,  hor 
two  years  he  served  as  President  of  the  Shelby 
County  Sunday  School  association,  doing  much 
effective  work  in  that  line.  In  politics  Mr.  holer 
is  an  ardent  jirohibitionist,  and  is  the  present 
county  chairman  for  said  party.  .\s  is  true  of 
his  aged  father  and  excellent  brothers,  Thomas 
P.  Eiler  ranks  among  Shelby  county's  useful  and 
respected  citizens. 

if.  if.  -if  -if 

WILLIAM  H.  RAGAX. 

The  roster  of  Shelby  county's  prominent 
men  must  needs  contain  the  name  of  Honorable 
William  H.  Ragan,  the  present  law  partner  of 
Judge  .\nthony  Thornton. 

Mr.  Ragan  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
( )hio,  September  30,  1851,  the  son  of  James  W. 
and  Ellen  (Springer)  Ragan.  Mr.  Ragan  served 
his  country  during  the  Alexican  and  Civil  wars, 
and  was  wounded  at  Haine's  Pluff,  in  1862,  and 
the  result  of  this  wound  caused  his  death  in  1886. 
In  1867  William  H.  came  with  his  parents  to 
Clark  county,  Ill.,  and  the  following  year  they  re¬ 
moved  to  this  county.  His  first  school  education 
was  received  in  Holland  township.  In  the  spring 
of  1869  he  entered  the  Shelbyville  public  schools, 
and  in  1870 — 71  taught  his  first  school,  it  being 
the  Walker  school  of  Windsor  township. 

]Mr.  Ragan  began  to  read  law  with  Hamlin 


iX  Holloway  in  1882.  Before  this,  however, 
through  the  kindness  of  Moulton  &  Chafee,  he 
obtained  law  hooks,  and  read  while  teaching  his 
first  schools.  In  1884  he  was  admitted  to  the 
l)ractice  oi  law  at  the  Par.  Suhsecpiently  taking 
a  two  years'  course  in  the  law  de])artment  (jf  the 
Xorthwestern  I'niversity,  graduating  therefrom 
in  1886.  .After  this  graduation  he  formed  a  co- 
l)artnershii)  with  William  C.  Kelley,  continuing 
the  .same  until  1892.  His  next  ])artnershii)  was 
with  ex-Supreme  Judge  .\nthony  Thornton,  and 
this  continues  to  the  present  time. 

In  boyhood  Mr.  Ragan  was  one  of  those 
lads  who  are  early  thrust  out  upon  the  world  to 
do  battle  for  themselves.  .After  his  fourteenth 
year  he  had  no  home,  until  he  made  one  for  him¬ 
self  in  later  life,  and  was  com|)elled  to  work  his 
own  way  from  that  time. 

( )n  the  1st  of  July,  1877,  Mr.  Ragan  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Gallagher,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Sarah  Gallagher,  both  deceased. 
'I'hree  children  were  the  issue  of  this  marriage: 
lilza  AL.  a  i)articipant  in  the  Spanish-American 
war.  and  now  serving  in  the  22(1  LA  S.  Infantry 
in  the  Philippines;  Maude  A.,  a  beautiful  young 
lady,  possessing  rare  talent  in  the  line  of  vocal 
and  instrumental  music;  and  Jennie,  who  died 
in  her  infancy.  A  suhscxiuent  marriage  of  Mr. 
Ragan  was  to  .Addie  M.  Roesslcr,  daughter  of 
David  Roessler,  and  grand-daughter  of  the  late 
Captain  Roessler,  belonging  to  one  of  the  best- 
known  German  families  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Ragan  was  an  adherent  of  the  rei)ubli- 
can  party  until  1884,  when  his  political  views 
changed,  and  he  embraced  the  faith  of  the  demo¬ 
crats.  He  has  ever  been  active  in  ])olitical  cam¬ 
paigns,  and  has  “stumped”  throughout  several 
states  in  the  interests  of  presidential  candidates, 
hrom  a  ])oIitical,  as  well  as  a  financial  standpoint. 
Mr.  Ragan  has  been  a  successful  man.  He  has 
occupied  the  mayor's  chair  of  the  city  of  Shelby- 


308 


WILLIAM  H.  RAGAN. 


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BIOGRAPHIES. 


vTlle,  and  has  also  been  County  Judi^e,  holding 
l)Oth  offices  at  the  same  time.  He  is  devoted  to 
his  law  practice  which  is  an  extensive  one.  He- 
g'inning'  in  povertv  and  obscurity  and  alone,  ^Ir. 
Ragan  has  demonstrated  the  power  of  will,  and 
indomitable  courage  which  are  his.  He  is  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  liberal  in  its 
support.  His  is  a  generous  nature,  he  being 
ever  ready  to  assist  those  in  need  or  distress, 
and  there  are  many  who  are  pleased  to  call  him 
"friend.” 

*  *  *  * 

HEXRV  CL.W  IWRRISH. 

The  subject  of  this  l)iograi)hical  review  is  a 
native  of  Shelby  county,  having  been  Ixjrn  in 
Shelhyville  township  in  1844.  His  parents  were 
Robert  W'.  Parrish,  horn  in  Indiana,  in  1811.  and 
Hannah  A.  (Way)  Parrish,  born  in  the  same 
state  in  1816. 

Henrv  si)ent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm 
upon  which  he  was  born,  and  attended  the  dis¬ 
trict  school.  Later  he  entered  the  Shelhyville 
Seminarv.  continuing  his  studies  there  until  19 
vears  of  age.  He  then  began  working  for  Thorn¬ 
ton.  Basey  &  Pfeiffer,  general  merchants,  re¬ 
maining  with  them  four  years,  or  until  1866.  Mr. 
Parrish  then  engaged  in  dairy  farming  for  a 
period  of  two  years.  Since  1871  he  has  been  a 
valued  employe  of  the  firm  of  Kleeman.  Gold¬ 
stein  &  Sons,  ever  courteous  to  the  ])ublic.  and 
faithful  to  his  employers. 

In  1870  Mr.  I’arrish  took  unto  himself  a 
wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Jennie  Ralston,  born 
in  Kentucky,  but  then  living  in  Shelhyville.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Parrish  became  the  ])arents  of  four 
children :  Pedie  Princess,  Robert  Ralston, 

Daisy  Pearl,  and  .A.nna  who  died  in  her  infancy. 

The  two  daughters  are  highly  accom])lished 
young  ladies,  and  with  the  rest  of  the  family  are 
valued  members  of  Shelbvville  societv.  ( )f 
Robert  R.  we  speak  more  definitely  : 


He  was  born  in  this  city  in  1874.  and  when 
he  became  of  sufficient  age  he  took  up  his  stud¬ 
ies  in  the  schools,  continuing  the  same  until  his 
graduation  from  the  High  school,  .\fterward 
he  was  appointed  court  stenographer  and  official 
reporter  for  this  district,  the  yth  Judicial,  and  also 
assiduously  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  law, 
under  the  direction  of  Hamlin  &  Kelley.  So 
diligently  did  he  pursue  the  study  of  "Black- 
stone,"  that  in  December.  1898.  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  though  he  still  retained  his  official 
position  in  the  court. 

In  the  city  election  of  1901.  Robert  became 
a  candidate  for  city  attorney,  and  was  easily 
elected  to  the  office.  He  is  still  a  young  man 
with  the  future  before  him,  and  if  present  indi¬ 
cations  are  any  criterion,  his  life  will  reacli  a 
high  plane  of  usefulness  and  success.  In  Decem¬ 
ber.  1899,  he  was  married  to  Janetta  Davidson, 
of  Cumberland  county:  and  they  now  reside  in 
Shelby ville.  and  have  one  child. 

Both  father  and  son  are  members  of  the 
democratic  party,  and  are  loyal  in  their  sigiport 
of  its  principles.  .Altogether,  the  family  is  a  tal¬ 
ented  and  attractive  one.  and  the  home  life  is 
happy  and  jileasant. 

if.  if.  Hf.  if. 

ROSS  WARD. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  William  L. 
Ward,  was  one  of  Shelby  county's  most  success¬ 
ful  and  res])ected  citizens ;  when  but  a  young 
man  lie  came  from  Bourbon  county.  Ky..  his  na¬ 
tive  home,  and  settled  in  Todd's  Point  township, 
this  county.  Ilere  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
rapidly  came  to  the  front  in  this  line.  Before  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  the  19th  of  July,  1872, 
Mr.  Ward  became  the  owner  of  more  than  a 
thousand  acres  of  black  prairie  land,  situated 
near  the  head  of  Robinson's  Creek.  His  wife, 
Sally  Mclver,  was  born  in  Hopkinsville,  Ky., 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents.  She  lived 


309 


B/0GRAP////1S. 


until  the  year  1882.  Hig'ht  cliiklren  were  l)orn 
into  their  home,  only  five  of  whom  still  live ; 
Mrs.  IMary  Clements,  of  (lalena,  Kansas;  John, 
of  Huron.  Dakota:  William,  of  Oklahoma;  Mrs. 
E.  S.  French,  of  vShelhyville,  and  our  subject. 
Ross  Ward  was  horn  in  this  count)’  on  the  4th 
day  of  February.  1849.  He  lived  at  home  upon 
the  farm  and  attended  the  district  scIkmjI  until 
he  was  nineteen  years  of  aj^^e.  After  this  time 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  and  continued 
with  same  until  he  was  thirty.  .\.s  a  farmer  he 
emulated  the  successful  record  of  his  father  be¬ 
fore  him.  On  leaving  the  farm  Mr.  Ward  moved 
to  the  city  of  Shelhyville  and  engaged  in  the 
purchase  of  live-stock ;  first  liogs,  and  then 
horses.  He  is  said  to  be  a  very  fine  judge  of 
animals.  In  the  year  1898  he  went  to  Louisiana 
and  invested  (|uite  extensively  in  rice  lands;  this, 
too,  has  proven  a  very  successful  financial  ven¬ 
ture.  Mr.  Ward  has  engaged  in  several  business 
inirsuits,  all  of  which  have  been  successfully 
managed,  which  fact  is  an  induhitahle  testimony 
to  the  excellence  of  his  l)usiness  ability.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Redmen's  fraternal  order,  and, 
politically,  is  a  staunch  re])ublican.  I  le  still  owns 
the  home  farm  in  Pickaway  township,  with  which 
he  would  not  be  willing  to  part.  IMr.  Ward  has  a 
good  standing  among  men  ;  his  word  is  as  good 
as  his  bond,  and  he  is  recognized  as  a  man  of 
amiability  and  good  j^arts. 

*  *  *  Hi 

WILLIAAI  F.  15IGGS. 

John  Milton  Piggs,  the  father  of  William 
E..  was  one  of  Shelby  county's  successful  busi¬ 


ness  men.  He  was  born  in  Tremble  Co.,  Ken¬ 
tucky,  in  the  year  1815.  He  came  to  Shelby  Co., 
Illinois,  in  1866  and  established  for  himself  a 
brick  yard  on  the  east  side  of  the  ( )kaw.  h'or  a 
period  of  thirteen  years  he  manufactured  brick 
at  this  i)lace  ;  indeed,  many  of  the  l)rick  buildings 
of  Shelbyville  were  built  of  brick  made  in  the 
Riggs  brick  yard.  Mr.  Riggs  was  a  member  of 
the  Raptist  church  in  Kentucky,  as  were  all  his 
ancestors.  He  was  much  respected  I)y  all  who 
knew  him.  After  retiring  from  husiness  he  made 
his  home  with  his  son  W.  F..  at  whose  residence 
he  died  in  i8<)8.  at  the  age  of  81  years.  Maria 
Morin,  born  in  Cam|)bell  Co.,  Kentucky,  Aug¬ 
ust  10th,  1829,  became  the  wife  of  John  M.  Riggs 
on  the  second  day  of  December.  1848;  the  cere¬ 
mony  took  i)lace  at  the  bride’s  home.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  hklward  and  Martha  Morin,  who 
died  in  the  years  1876  and  1859,  respectively. 
Mrs.  Riggs  died  on  the  last  day  of  June.  1865. 
To  herself  and  husband  were  born  seven  chil¬ 
dren  :  Edward  A.,  Cena,  J.  M.,  Jr.;  William  F., 
Robert  A.,  Jefiferson  D.,  and  Lucy  H.  William 
was  born  in  Cam])bell  Co.,  Kentucky,  March 
6th,  1857, -and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents. 
He  remained  with  them  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  assisting  his  father  in  the  brick 
business  and  attending  the  Shelbyville  schools. 
In  the  year  1887  he  was  married  to  \’iola  Shi])- 
man,  of  Shelbyville.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  children  :  Neva  and  Jessie.  Mr.  Riggs  is  a 
successful  business  man  and  has  a  good  standing 
as  a  citizen.  His  home  life  is  ever  pleasant  and 
happy.  His  wife  finds  in  him  an  attentive  and 
devoted  husband,  and  the  children  find  in  him  a 
kind  and  indulgent  parent. 


APPENDIX  TO 


SHELBY  COUNTY  IN  WAR, 

Wri'H  THE  ADDITION  OK  “a  COUNTRV  DOCTOR  ON  THE  ITRINO  I.INe”  AND 


AN  INCIDENT  OK 
By  ELGIN  H 

Some  seeming'  omissions  may  be  noted  in 
tlie  article,  “Shelby  County  in  W  ar,”  as  in  other 
(lei)artments  of  this  history.  To  account  for  these 
it  may  be  well  to  state  that  it  was  not  the  purpose 
to  give  a  complete  history  of  each  regiment, 
battery  and  comj^any,  but  to  give  a  brief  sketch 
of  each  and  some  of  the  more  important  of  the 
campaigns  and  engagements  in  which  they  par¬ 
ticipated.  This  note  of  e.xplanation  may  serve  to 
free  the  article  from  any  seeming  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  writer  or  i)ublisher  to  make  invidious 
comparisons  of  the  different  commands  which, 
so  far  as  the  writer  knows,  all  did  loyal,  faithful 
service.  It  is  true  that  it  was  the  fortune,  or 
misfortune,  for  some  commands  in  which  the 
Shelby  county  contingents  served,  to  do  more 
hard  fighting,  to  undergo  severer  hardships,  to 
endure  more  for  the  cause  in  which  all  were  en¬ 
listed  than  did  otluTS.  but  this  was  no  fault  -of 
the  men.  They  were  all  ready  f.t  all  times  to  do 
any  sers’ice  to  which  they  were  called,  and  are 
ecpially  deserving  of  the  plaudits  of  their  coun¬ 
trymen. 

.A  COL'XTRV  DOCTOR  OX  THE  FIRIXG 

LIXR. 

The  cjuestion  has  often  been  asked,  and  as 
often  answered.  “How  does  a  man  feel  when 
first  under  fire?”  W’e  shall  not  here  stop  to 
answer  this  question,  but  shall  instead  give  a 
chapter  in  the  experience  of  a  country  doctor, 
who  chanced  at  a  critical  jicriod  to  be  on  the 
“firing  line.” 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  s])eak  is  Dr. 


CHICKA.M  AUGA. 

.MARTIN. 

T  homas  L.  Catherwood,  now,  and  for  25  years, 
a  resident  practitioner  in  Shelbyville.  but  at  the 
time  he  enjoyed(  ?)  the  experience  related,  a 
resident  of  Mowea(|ua. 

Xo  township  in  Shelby  county,  or  Central 
Illinois,  turned  out  more  soldiers  to  ])ut  down 
the  rebellion  in  projxirtion  to  population  than  did 
Mowea(|ua.  She  had  representatives  in  a  half 
score  or  more  separate  organizations.  Among 
these  were  the  lyighth.  Fourteenth.  Thirty-sec¬ 
ond,  Forty-first.  ( )ne  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  and 
One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  regiments  of  Illi¬ 
nois  infantry,  and  the  Seventh  Kansas  infantry. 

In  the  s])ring  of  '62  great  anxiety  was  felt 
by  the  jiarents  and  friends  of  the  Moweaipia 
soldier  bovs.  The  movement  up  the  Tennessee 
and  Cumberland  rivers  was  in  jirogress :  the  bat¬ 
tles  of  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  had  been 
fought,  and  the  Shelby  county  boys  were  in  the 
advance  division.  Just  at  this  time  an  embargo 
seemed  to  have  been  ])laced  on  travel  and  cor¬ 
respondence.  Men.  who  had  before  been 
])romiscd  furloughs  home  did  not  come,  nor 
could  any  information  of  them  be  obtained. 

.\t  this  juncture  Dr.  Catherwood.  than 
whom  no  soldier  or  his  family  had  a  better 
friend,  volunteereil  to  go  down  to  or  as  near 
“the  seat  of  war”  as  he  could  get  and  endeavor 
to  learn  the  whereabouts  and  condition  of  the 
missing  men.  He  left  home  about  the  20th  of 
March.  After  looking  through  the  camps  and 
hospitals  at  Cairo.  Columbus.  Ky..  and  Mound 
City,  he  went  up  the  Ohio  to  Paducah.  Finding 
no  trace  of  those  for  whom  he  sought,  the  doctor 


APPEiV/)/X. 


and  a  companion  with  whom  he  had  fallen  in, 
sontjht  and  found  a  (juiet,  inconsijicuous  berth  on 
a  g’overnment  trans])ort  bound  uj)  the  river  with 
reinforcements  for  (irant’s  army.  I  hey  had  no 
permits,  hut  Dr.  Catherwood  was  fortunate 
enough  to  be  able  to  ingratiate  himself  into  the 
TOod  trraces  of  Dr.  Wordsworth,  of  Concord,  X. 
H..  an  arm\'  surgeon,  also  bonnd  uj)  the  river. 
Through  this  gentleman’s  kindness  Dr.  Cather¬ 
wood  was  placed  in  temporary  charge  of  the 
13th  Ohio  battery  as  assistant  surgeon.  Half 
the  men  of  the  battery  were  sick  with  mumps 
and  the  new  ly  appointed  army  surgeon  had  little 
time  to  enjov  the  more  or  less  beautiful  scenery 
as  the  boat  pushed  up  the  river. 

The  boat  landed  at  Savannah,  Tenn..  where 
the  doctor  went  ashore,  and  armed  with  a  letter 
from  Surgeon  Wordsw'orth  exi)laining  the  object 
of  his  visit,  he  rei)orted  at  (len.  (irant  s  head- 
cjuarters,  secured  a  pass,  as  did  his  companion, 
and  resumed  his  journey  to  Pittsburg  Landing 
whore  the  bulk  of  the  army  lay.  .At  the  landing 
the  doctor  met  Col.  "Dick"  ( )glesby,  of  the 
t^ighth  regiment,  an  old  and  valued  friend ; 
Capt.  Oglesby  (jf  the  Forty-first,  also  an  ac- 
(|uaintance,  and  also  Lieut. -Col.  Tupi)er.  of  the 
same  regiment.  From  these  he  learned  the 
whereabouts  and  the  reason  the  ])romised  fur¬ 
loughs  were  not  granted — a  big  battle  was  im¬ 
minent  and  every  man  was  needed  in  his  place. 

Without  loss  of  time,  the  doctor  started  out 
on  foot,  to  locate  the  lads  wdiom  he  was  most  de¬ 
sirous  to  see.  He  had  no  difficulty  in  going 
from  camp  to  camp,  which  w’as  a  suri)rise  to 
him.  as  he  had  supposed  strict  guard  duty  was  im- 
])Osed  so  near  the  front,  and  that  every  man 
within  the  lines  would  have  to  give  an  account  of 
himself.  Such,  however,  was  not  the  case.  From 
one  camp  to  another  he  wended  his  wav,  with¬ 
out  let  or  hindrance,  and  only  once  in  his  (lav's 
march  was  he  even  asked  to  show  his  jiass. 


This  was  in  the  camp  of  the  32(1  regiment ;  and 
here  he  met  his  old  friend  and  neighbor,  Capt. 

C.  Campbell,  who  commanded  a  company  in 
the  3211(1.  The  Captain  t(aok  him  in  charge  and 
gave  him  the  best  a  war  fo(jting  allowed.  Here 
he  found  a  number  of  the  Mowexupia  boys  all  en- 
joying  good  health  and  seemingly  well  satisfied 
with  army  life. 

The  ne.\t  morning,  with  an  old  friend.  Joe 
Catherwood.  wagonmaster  of  the  41st.  the  doctor 
rode  miles  into  the  country,  inside  and  outside 
the  I’nion  lines,  and  as  he  believes,  near  to.  if 
not  inside,  the  rebel  lines,  yet  never  saw  a  picket 
or  a  vidette  or  any  indication  of  even  ordinary 
piecautions  having  been  taken  against  surprise 
by  the  enemy.  This  was  m^t  in  accordance  with 
the  doctor’s  ideas  of  military  disciiiline.  His 
surjirise  was  heightened  when  a  few  days  later 
he  obtained  indubitable  evidence  that  on  the  very 
day  he  and  his  friend,  the  wagonmaster,  made 
a  tour  of  the  lines  that  the  ojiposing  armies  were 
separated  by  only  a  few  miles,  a  fact  of  which 
the  I'nion  army,  at  least,  was  wholly  ignorant, 
as  subse(|uent  events  proved. 

As  a  country  practitioner  the  doctor  was 
somewhat  inured  to  exjiosure  and  hardshij),  but 
it  was  not  to  be  compared  to  that  of  army  life. 
W  hile  he  had  the  best  the  military  commissariat 
could  provide  it  was  far  from  what  he  had  been 
used  to.  His  meals  were  somewhat  irregular 
and  scanty  and  being  a  "tenderfoot”  his  stomach 
protested  against  army  diet  and  for  a  few  days 
he  was  considerably  under  the  weather. 

Saturday  night,  April  5th,  he  was  the  guest 
of  friends  in  the  cam])  of  the  41st  regiment.  He 
had  slept  as  well  as  he  could  on  the  cold,  cold 
ground,  and  had  retired  on  an  em])ty  stomach. 
His  bed  was  not  of  the  best.  i)robably  the  feath¬ 
ers  had  not  been  stirred.  His  rest  was  disturbed 
and  he  was  glad  when  the  first  faint  glimpse  of 
daylight  api)eare(l.  He  arose  and  strolled  about 


APPEXDIX. 


camp.  He  wandered  down  to-  the  hrijjade  com¬ 
missary.  In  camp,  rations,  lie  knew,  were  short. 
Here  they  seemed  plenty  and  by  a  stroke  of 
sjood  fortune  he  obtained  an  arm-load  of  hard¬ 
tack.  Returning-  to  camp  he  passed  through  that 
of  the  32nd.  now  and  then  giving  the  boys  he 
met  a  cracker  until  he  came  to  the  41st.  Here 
he  found  the  boys  in  line  of  battle,  many  of  them 
without  breakfast  and  he  soon  and  readily  got 
rid  of  his  hard  bread. 

The  division  (Hurlbut's)  to  which  the  14th. 
32nd  and  41st  belonged,  was  in  tbe  second  line. 
Prentiss'  division  was  in  front  and  very  early 
that  morning  had  been  attacked  by  the  enemy 
in  force.  Many  of  Hurlbut's  men  were  still  in 
bed ;  more  of  them  were  engaged  in  getting 
breakfast  when  the  rebels  swooped  down  upon 
them,  captured  their  camp  and  demoralized  the 
division.  They  fell  back  in  confusion,  and  about 
the  time  the  subject  of  this  sketch  coinjileted  the 
distribution  of  his  crackers  the  ])anic-stricken 
fugitives  from  the  front  came  back  on  the  run 
in  great  disorder.  They  brought  a  startling  story 
of  disaster.  Following  closely  the  discomfited 
federals  the  exultant  foe  came  down  on  Hurl¬ 
but's  division  like  a  hurricane.  The  41st  was  in 
an  exjiosed  jiosition  and  were  ordered  back  over 
the  ridge  where  for  some  time  they  held  their 
ground,  but  being  taken  m  Hank  and  tbeir  line 
enfiladed  they  fell  further  back  toward  the  river 
where  Col.  Webster's  cordon  of  big  guns  held  the 
enemy  in  check  until  night  fell  and  ended  the 
day’s  carnage. 

Just  before  the  battle  Capt.  Oglesbv  hand¬ 
ed  Dr.  Catherwood  his  purse,  remarking  that 
he  had  a  presentiment  that  he  would  not  survive 
the  day.  Essaying  to  do  likewise  with  his 
watch  he  was  prevented  by  a  sudden  order  to 
advance.  W  ith  the  remark.  “Give  the  purse 
to  my  wife."  the  gallant  captain  moved  forward 
to  his  death.  An  hour  later  he  was  stricken 


down  by  a  musket  ball  and  before  his  men  could 
remove  him  another  ball  struck  him  and  he  fell 
to  rise  no  more. 

Dr.  Catherwood  passed  the  night  on  board 
a  transport,  helping  care  for  the  wounded.  .Ml 
night  he  worked,  amputating  limbs,  dressing 
wounds,  and  doing  wbat  else  he  could  to  as¬ 
suage  the  horrors  of  war.  When  morning 
came  he  went  ashore.  The  battle  re-opened 
early  and  before  noon  the  Ihiion  troojjs  were 
again  in  j^ossession  of  their  camps  and  the  bat¬ 
tle-field  of  the  day  before.  With  the  necessary 
surgical  instruments  and  appliances.  ])rovided 
by  order  of  Col.  Pugh  of  the  41st.  and  with 
four  stretcher-bearers  detailed  from  that  reg¬ 
iment  he  went  to  the  field  and  worked  all  day 
and  late  into  the  night,  ministering  to  the  im¬ 
mediate  wants  of  the  poor  fellows,  federal  and 
confederate,  who  had  fought  so  well.  That 
night,  anuing  the  dead  brought  in  from  the 
field,  the  doctor  recognized  Martin  llacon.  one 
of  the  Moweatpia  boys.  He  pinned  a  pajier  with 
the  man’s  name  and  regiment  on  his  blouse,  and 
went  on  his  way.  .\nother  of  the  Mt)wea(iua 
contingent  to  fall  was  George  Tuttle.  Still  an¬ 
other  was  ( )rderly  Sergeant  J.  \’.  Clements  of 
the  32d.  whose  leg  had  to  be  amputated,  and  wbo 
died  a  few  days  later,  in  the  hos|)ital  at  Mound 
City.  Many  others  were  more  or  less  severe¬ 
ly  wounded,  but  the  flight  of  years  since  has 
blotted  the  names  from  memory.  \\  hen  the  doc¬ 
tor  reached  Cairo  on  Iris  homeward  journey  he 
was  able  to  deny  the  rejiort  that  had  reached' 
home — that  Col.  Tupper  was  among  the  killed. 
He  was  only  severely  wounded. 

^  In  regard  to  his  sensations  when  the  battle 
came  on.  the  doctor  says  he  was  not  frightened. 
He  had  no  sense  of  fear,  but  was  simply  dazed 
with  the  unwonted  e.xcitement  and  noise,  and 
for  a  few  minutes  after  real  fighting  commenced 
he  was  completely  oblivious  of  his  surround- 


I  '> 
0  ^  0 


APPEND/X. 


iiip^s.  About  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  of  his  life  were 
completely  blotted  out,  and  until  this  day  he  can¬ 
not  say  what  transpired  around  him.  However, 
he  came  to  a  full  realization  of  the  horrors  of 
war,  and  gained  an  exalted  opinion  of  and  re¬ 
spect  for  the  heroism  displayed  by  the  Amer¬ 
ican  soldier.  It  may  he  added  that  this  resi)ect 
has  served  to  endear  him  to  the  soldier  and  make 
him  more  than  willing  at  any  and  all  times 
to  serve  him  or  those  who  are  or  iiave  been  dear 
to  him.  Dr.  Catherwood  has  perhaps  been  in¬ 
strumental  in  assisting  more  soldiers  and  their 
widows  to  successfully  prosecute  claims  for  pen¬ 
sions  than  any  other  man  in  this  congressional 
district  and  that  without  money  or  without  price. 

AX  IXCIDEXT  OF  CH1CKAM.\1'(IA. 

.As  mentioned  elsewhere,  the  M5th  Illi¬ 
nois  infantry  took  a  conspicuous  i)art  in  the  bat¬ 
tle  of  Chickamauga,  September  19  and  20,  1863. 
The  regiment  formed  a  part  of  Gen.  James  15. 
Steedman’s  (2d)  Division  of  the  Fourth  .Army 
Cor])s,  which  chanced  to  come  into  the  fight 
at  a  most  opportune  moment,  and  did  much  to 
save  ‘Tap’'  Thomas’  heroic  hut  almost  exhausted 
troops  from  dire  disaster. 

•  Steedman’s  division  was  on  the  extreme  left 
of  the  Union  line  Sunday  morning,  and,  find¬ 
ing  no  enemy  in  his  front,  remained  (piietly  in 
bivouac  awaiting  orders.  I’ecoming  impatient 
of  inaction,  and  hearing  heavy  fighti  ng  to  his 


right,  he  finally  moved  off  in  (juick  time  in  that 
direction,  without  orders.  .\t  1  o’clock  in  the 
afternoon  the  reserve  corps  reached  the  scene  of 
operations  and  was  at  once  sent  in  on  a  douhle- 
(juick  charge  on  Fongstreet's  veterans  from  the 
Army  t)f  \’irginia  and  were  hotly  engaged  until 
night  came  on. 

About  3  o’clock  the  enemy  made  a  most  de¬ 
termined  return  assaidt  on  the  Union  line  on 
Snodgrass  Hill  and  forced  it  hack  over  the  hill, 
the  federal’s  ammunition  being  almost  or  (piite 
exhausted.  Swjii  confusion  resulted,  when  Gen. 
Steedman  came  dashing  down  the  line,  the  very 
incarnation  of  courage,  took  the  colors  of  the 
I  15th,  rushed  forward  and  thundered  out:  ”Xow, 
hoys;  follow  your  flag!"  and  they  did,  repulsing 
the  enemy  with  great  slaughter.  'I'hen  handing 
the  coUji'S  to  a  non-commissioned  officer  of  Co. 
15.,  the  general  said:  "Here,  sergeant:  take  this 
flag:  stick  to  it — never  give  it  up  to  the  enemy!" 
This  order  was  obeyed  to  the  letter,  and  later 
the  banner,  torn  to  ribbons  by  rebel  bullets,  was 
returned  to  the  color-hearer,  when  the  sergeant 
jiicked  u])  a  musket,  resumed  his  place  in  the 
ranks  and  took  part  in  the  regiment’s  final 
bayonet  charge  which  .saved  from  capture  two 
jiieces  of  the  First  Illinois  artillery  and  closed 
the  sanguinary  struggle  on  that  part  of  the  field. 

The  non-commissioned  officer  to  whom 
reference  is  here  made  is  now'  Fscpiire  John 
\\  eeks,  of  Tower  Hill,  then  orderly  sergeant  of 
Co.  15,  115th  Infantry. 


Lilhia  springs  Parh  and  lleallh  Resort 

LITHIA  (Shelby  County,  Illinois)  Near  Middlesworth  on  Bi^  Four  R.  R. 


200  Acres  of  Woodland 
with  nearly  every  variety 
of  trees,  plants  and  sing¬ 
ing  birds. 

Picturesque  Scenery,  rug¬ 
ged  hills  and  deep  glens. 
Never  failing  fountains  of 
cool,  pure,  wholesome 
water. 

The  Mineral  Springs  con¬ 
tain  Lithium  and  other 
properties,  making  the 
water  equal  to  any  min¬ 
eral  water  in  the  world 
for  good  health  and  the 
cure  of  many  ills.  Thus 
testify  hundreds  of  good 
witnesses. 


Tne  grounds  at  this 
writing,  (April,  1901) 
have  few  and  rude  im¬ 
provements,  No  great 
Hotel  or  Sanitarium 
building,  as  yet. 

CAMPING 

GROUND. 

Perfectly  drained;  a  co¬ 
vert  from  storms;  free 
from  malaria  and  mis¬ 
chief  makers. 

It  is  Homelike,  Sunny 
and  Shady.  Cozy,  quiet 
and  restful;  a.nd  not 
COSTLY. 


mm\l  LITHIA  CHAITAUOIA  AND  SIMMER  SCHOOLS. 

Location— Near  Middlesworth  Station,  five  miles  east  of  Shelby ville,  Shelby  County,  Illinois. 

THE  ONLY  CHAUTAUQUA  ON  BIG  FOUR  ROUTE  BETWEEN  ST.  LOUIS  AND  INDIANAPOLIS. 


MEMBER  OF  INTERNATIONAL  ALLIANCE.  Interdenominational  and  Interpartisan. 

Motto — “In  the  love  of  truth  and  in  the  spirit  of  Jesus  we  unite  for  the  worship  of  God  and  the  service  of  man.” 


LOCAL  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

Hon.  Geo.  D.  Chafee.  Attorney. 

Mr.  Max  Kleeman.  Merchant. 

Hon.  William  C.  Kelley.  Attorney. 

William).  Eddy.  M.  D. 

Mr.  William  F.  Douthit.  Farmer. 


LOCAL  ADVISORY  COMMITTEES. 

SHELBVVILLE.  ILLINOIS. 

Prof.  C.  P.  Randle.  Supt.  Public  Schools. 

Judge  Truman  E.  Ames.  Judge  of  the  Fourth 
Judicial  Circuit. 

Hon.  H.  J.  Hamlin.  Attorney  General  of  Illinois. 
Hon.  John  W.  Yantis.  Member  State  Beard  of 
Equalization.  ISth  District. 

Abram  Middlesworth.  Pres.  First  National  Bank. 


Wallace  E.  Walker.  ex-County  Treasurer. 

Harry  M.  Martin.  Postmaster. 

K.  A.  Hite,  Agent  American  Express  Company. 
Hon.  Walter  C.  Headen.  President  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

Wesley  McCann.  Deacon  African  M.  E.  Church. 
Mrs.  Addie  Dealing.  Mrs.  Josie  Keller. 

Mrs.  Mary  H.  Lloyd,  and  a  dozen  others. 


GENERAL  ADVISORY  BOARD. 

The  following  are  among  the  25  representatives 
on  this  board: 

Rev.  Edward  E.  Hale.  D.  D.,  Boston.  Mass. 

Mrs.  Leonora  M.  Lake.  St.  Louis.  Mo..  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Union  of  America. 


Rev.  W.  J.  Frazer.  D.  D.,  Pastor  Presbyterian 
Church.  Brazil.  Ind. 

Booker  T.  Washington.  Tuskegee.  Ala. 

Mrs.  Clara  C.  Hoffman.  Recording  Secretary  of 
National  W.C.  T.  U..  Kansas  City.  Mo. 

Hon.  John  D.  Long.  Secretary  Navy.  Washington. 
D.  C. 

Hon.  John  C.  Woolley,  Chicago. 

Hon.  Anthony  Thornton.  ex-Judge  of  Illinois  Su¬ 
preme  Court.  Sheloyville.  III. 

Hon.  Sam  1  W.  Moulton.  ex-Congressman.  Shel- 
byville.  III. 

Cen'l  Ballington  Booth.  New  York  City. 

Col.  Dudley  C.  Smith,  Normal.  III. 

Prof.  E.  Davenport,  Dean  of  Agricultural  College. 
State  University.  Urbana.  IT. 


This  Chautauqua  is  a  Religious,  Educational  and  Philanthropic  Institution.  It  is  conducted  solely  for  benevolent 
purposes,  without  pecuniary  profit  to  any  one.  The  Spring  water  and  Park  are  free  to  daily  visitors  the  year  round, 
excepting  on  advertised  occasions.  Then  all  receipts  above  actual  expenses  are  applied  to  improvement  of  Park  for  the 
benefit  of  all  who  will  obey  the  rules  and  regulations. 

Some  of  the  greatest  and  best  men  and  women  in  the  nation  and  most  famous  orators  of  the  world  have  as¬ 
sisted  at  Lithia  Springs  during  the  past  ten  years. 


THE  fIRST  TWENTIETH  CENTtRY  SESSION 

BEING  THE  ELEVENTH  ANNUAL  LITHIA  CHAUTAUQUA  ASSEMBLY,  WILL  BE  HFLD 
AUGUST  10'26,  1901  —  ^6  DAYS— With  More  Than  30  Different  Entertainments. 

For  further  information,  see  Our  Best  Words,  or  address, 

JA8PER  L.  DOLTniT,  Manager,  8helbyville,  III. 

N.  B. — For  Story  of  Lithia  Chautauqua,  see  History  of  Shelby  Co.,  Ill.,  Published  by  Grant  B.  Wilder  &  Co.,  1901. 


INDEX 


ra«»‘. 


Taira. 


('HATTER  1. — Trelii.stoi'ic  Days  5 

Tlie  Flora .  ■”> 

Tlie  Fauna .  <5 

First  Tt'rinanaiit  S(>ttlenu‘nt  ....  (> 

I'irst  Land  Entry .  7 

I-'irst  Mill .  7 

First  Rlacksniitli  in  (’onnty  ....  .S 
('II.VTTER  11.— Organization  Etc.  li> 

Eocatiiifr  of  (’onnty  Scat . 12 

Report  of  Commissioners . T2 

First  Election . l.'l 

First  Mceliiifr  of  Co.  Com.  Court  Rl 
First  Mcetiiifr  of  H'd  of  Snp.  and 

Townsldp  Or^ranization .  i:J 

Call  for  Supervisors'  Meetiiifr  ••  Tf 

Name . lo 

f'irst  Court  IIousi*  • . Id 

Second  Court  House . 17 

Tlnrd  Court  House . IS 

Report  of  Building  Committee..  T.» 

First  Caol . 22 

(laol  Number  Two . 22 

Caol  Number  Three . 22 

The  Tresent  Caol . 22 

Report  of  Crand  .lury . 22 

Resolution  to  Ruild  New  .fail  ....  24 
Report  of  Huildinjr  Committei*  .  .  2d 
Tool'  Farm . 'id 


CHATTER  111.  —  Ceoiriapliical 


Situation,  Etc . ‘2'.> 

County  Capital . 2!) 

Toi)o}rrapliy . 2'.i 

Draiiiaire  Systiun . 20 

Townships . 20 

Topulation  of  Townsliijis . 20 

Soil . 21 


CHATTER  IV.-StateRoads.  Etc.  22 
Tolitical  Tarties  and  lauiders  .  .  22 


CHATTER  V.-Manners  and  Cus¬ 


toms  of  Tioneers,  Etc . 2d 

CHAl’TER  VI.— M’iuiiowedCleau- 
injrs  From  Official  Records  ....  40 

I'irst  Marriage  Eicense . 40 

.Mai'riano  License  No.  100 . 41 

Tarental  ('onsent . 41 

-Marriasre  Certificates . 42 


Rei-eijit  for  License  .Money..  .. 

Receipt  for  Fine . 

Tetition . 

Oath  of  W  illiam  Wilson . 

Tetition  of  Barnet  Bone . 

Tidition  for  Election  Trecinct  .  . 
Tetition  for  Review  of  Roail  .. 

( 'ertilicate  and  Oatli . 

Tromissory  Noli* . 

Order  and  Receipt . 

.Vrtidavit . 

Esti'ay  Notice . 

Extract  l-'rom  .ludfiment . 

Exti'act  From  .tpiiraisement  Bill 
Report  Concerninfj  Toor  House  .  . 
First  Vi'uiri*  of  Crand  .lurors  .. 

First  Tetit  .lurors . 

Election  Districts . 

Estray  Ten . 

First  Crocery  License . 

I'erry  Boat . 

First  Deed . 

First  Will . 

Assessments . 

.V  Murder  Case . 


4.2 

4.2 

42 

44 

44 

44 
41 
4.2 
4.2 
4d 
4d 
4d 
4d 
4d 
47 

45 
4!) 
40 
40 
40 
.20 
.20 
.21 
.22 
.22 


Case  of  Flonfiin;; . .22 

Naturalization  Taper . .24 

First  Divorce . ,.2.2 

Lejrislators . .2.2 

County  Commissioners . .2d 

Trobate  .lustices  of  Teace  .  .  .  .  2d 

County  .ludjies . .2d 

Master  in  Chancery . .27 

Clerks  of  County  (’ourt . 27 

Clerks  of  Circtiit  Court . .27 

Sheriffs . .27 

Coroners . .27 


Treasurers . .28 

Surveyors . .2$ 

State  and  County  .tttorm'ys  .  .  .  .  .28 
Circuit  .ludsf*!^ . 28 


('H.\TTER  VI 1. — Reminiscc'uces  .20 


CHATTER  VI II.— A  Tersoual 

History . (18 

Where  I  Have  Been  For  Sixty-six 

Years . 08 

Family  and  Forefathers . 08 


Churcli  Statistics . 70 

How  and  Wlum  1  Became  Fnitar- 

ian . 70 

At  School . 71 

Libert.v,  Fnion,  Charity.  Etc.  ...  72 

Vow  of  Total  Abstinence . 72 

Collcctiiif;  Taxes.  Slavtu'y.  Etc  .  .  72 
Kni;ihts  of  Cohlen  CircU* — Tar- 

tisan  Trejudice . 74 

Takiii}:  the  Emadlment . 70 

Unitarian  Tosition  and  Name  .  .  7S 
Unitarian  and  Trinitarian  Con- 

grejiationalists . 7S 

Banner  of  National  Confenmee  .  .  70 
Object  of  American  Unitarian 

Association . 7!» 

Unitarian  Stuml)ling-Blo<‘ks  ....  .80 
Representative  Unitarians  .  .  .  .  81 

B(>gininng  at  Log  Churcli . .81 

With  the  Local  Tress . 82 

Organizing  Unitarian  Congrega¬ 
tions  . .83 

Robert  Collyer's  “Story  of  the 

Trairie” . 84 

.At  the  Old  Court  House . .84 

Elder  .lohn  Ellis  and  .lacob 


Smith . .8.2 

Loudest  Call  to  Treach . 8.2 

Blue  Ribbon  Crusade . .80 

War  .Vgainst  Treating  Custom..  S7 

Friends  in  Need . .88 

Saintly  Friends  and  Co-Workers  8.8 

Brotherly  Kindness . .8!) 

Mission  of  Our  Best  A\'ords  ....  .8';) 
Struggle  at  Lithia  Siiring?!  .  .  .  .  .8!) 

.\  Court  Trial . 00 

To  Reform  the  4th  of  .Inly  .  .  .  .  00 

Hallowed  (Irounds . 01 

Tried  ami  True  .Vllies . 01 

I>ithia  Chautamiua  .Vs  It  Is.  .  .  .  02 
Hopeful  Outlook . 02 


CHATTER  IX.— Sketch  of  Shelby 


County  Bar . 95 

William  .V.  Richardson . Od 

Daniel  Cregory . Od 

Morris  R.  Chew . Od 

Ed  Evey . Oil 


INDEX 


■loseph  (!.  Caimou . !)(> 

Will.  II.  Jlft'd . !M> 

Aiitlioii.v  T.  Hall . !M) 

Will.  .1.  Henry . SIT 

W.  M'.  Hes.s  .  .  .  . . S)8 

.1.  Will.  Lloyd . 118 

H.  S.  Mmiser . 118 

^^■illialll  ('hew . 911 

Will.  Haiiiii . 111! 

Tniiiiaii  K.  Ames . 1)9 

T.  ]•'.  Dove . ld(i 

William  (’.  Kelley . 101 

Walter  (’.  Headeii . 101 

(I'eorge  B.  Blioads . 102 

William  H.  (’iiew . lo;t 

Ehen  A.  Kieliardsoii . 103 

W.  O.  Wallace . 10:{ 

.las.  K.  I*.  (Iridt'r . lo.'l 

Howland  .1.  Hamlin . lo:{ 

Benjamin  !•'.  Wilson . 104 

William  H.  Uajjan . lo.l 

William  H.  ('raifi: . ..lo.j 

Richard  T.  Eddy . 100 

C.  K.  Torrence . BiO 

Thornton  'Forrence . 100 

William  Towns(>nd . 100 

Milton  Barbee . loo 

(leorge  R.  AVendling . lOiI 

Saimiel  W.  Moulton . 10!) 

Anthony  Thornton . .110 

(leorge  I),  ('hafee . 130 

CHAl’TER  X.— The  Press  of 

8hell)y  County . 141 

The  Okaw . 141 

I’rairie  Flower . 141 

Shelby ville  Bannei- . 142 

OkaAv  Patriot . 142 

Shelby  County  Leader . 142 

('entral  Illinois  Times . 142 

Shelby  Freeman . 143 

Shelby  County  Piuon . 143 

Daily  ITiion . 143 

Shelby  County  Independent  .  .  .  .144 

Shelijy ville  Democrat . 144 

(.'hurch  and  Home . 144 

Our  Best  Words . 144 

Peei)les'  I’aper . 144 

Simple  Truth . 144 

Windsor  Sentinel . 144 

Dollar  Sentinel . 14.1 

tVindsor  Oazette . 14.3 

M'indsor  Advocate . 14.3 

Stewardson  Enteriaase . 14.3 

Creenback  Herald . 14.3 

True  Democrat . 140 


Page*. 

ToW(‘r  Hill  Breeze  ..  .  .' . 140 

Comim'rcial . •  .  .  .  .140 

Ajiiary . 140 

Sige'l  Advocate . 140 

Cowden  Herald . ^..  ..140 

Cowd(>n  Enterprise . 140 

Retlectoi' . 140 

Mowempia  R<>gister . 147 

I'he  Mail . 147 

'Flu*  Call . 147 

Call-Mail . 117 

SI  ('ll)y  County  Re'imbucan  ..  ..147 

Shelby  County  Citizen . 147 

Moweaepia  Rei»ublican . 147 

I'  indlay  Enteriu'ise . 148 

Herald . 148 

CHAPTER  XL— Fhe  Sc oois.  ,.11.) 

Th.e  Early  Schools . 1.3(1 

Shelliy  Seminary . 1.31 

CHAPTER  Xll. -Shelliy  County 

in  War . 1.30 

Si  elliy's  Part  in  M'ar  lor  Cnion.  .1.37 

Sevi  nth  Intantry . 1  ■*< 

Eighth  Infantry . lo-s 

Nintli  Infantry . 1.38 

Eleventh  Infantry . 1.38 

( '().  "B”— Eourtee'iirli  Infantry  ..  1.38 

'Fhirty-Second  Infantry . 1.39 

i'hirty-h'itth  Intantiy . 10) 

h'orty-First  Regiment . 109 

Fifty-Fourtli  Infantry . 109 

One  Hundn'd  Eift<“e“ntn  Infantry  101 

Regimental  Otlieers . 101 

Company  Otlieers . 101 

One  Hundered  Si.xteenth . 102 

One  Hundred  Sevemc(*niii  ..  ..102 
One  Hundre'd  'Fwenty-Tliird  .  .  .  .102 
One  Hundred  'Fwenty-Si.xth  ..  ..102 

Mounted  Troops . 10  5 

S(>venth  Cavalry . 10‘! 

Tenth  Cavalry . 104 

One  Hundri'd  Day  .Men . 104 

One  Hundred  Forty-Third  Inf.. 104 

Sjianish-.t merican  M’ar . BO 

O.  A.  R . 10.3 

First  Otlieers  Cyrus  Hall  Post  .  .100 

Samuel  .\kiu  Post  ..  ..  - . 100 

.1.  R.  Tilley  Post . 107 

David  .lames  Post . 107 

.1.  3".  Clements  Post . 107 

.lohn  Huffer  Post . lO.S 

3V.  R.  (' . 108 

Moweacpia  3V.  R.  C . 109 

Sons  of  Veterans . 10!) 


Page. 


CHAPTER  Xlll.  —  Railroads. 

Business  Enterprises.  Etc . 179 

Railroads . 179 

Coal . 179 

( lold . 171 

<  as  and  Oil . 1(2 

Star  .Mills . 172 

Hat  Factory . 172 

Handle  Factory . 172 

Broom  Factory . 173 

Banks . 173 

( 'hildren's  Home . 174 

CH  -U  ’TER  X  1  V.— Ecclesiastical 

Work . 179 

PRESBYTERl.tX  .  . . 179 

Shelliy  ville . 17!) 

West  Okaw . 181 

Tower  Hill . 1S1 

.Moweaipia . 182 

Bethany . 182 

ST.  PAFL'S  REFOR.MED  ..  ..183 

CHFRCH  OF  CHRIS'F . 183 

Shelby  County . 18.3 

Sh.elby  ville . ISO 

.\sh  ( Irove . 187 

Sand  Cr(>ek . 187 

Mindsor . 187 

Antioch  ..  ..  . . '.  ..188 

Bethany . 188 

Welborn  Creek . 188 

X(‘W  Liberty . 188 

Fnion  or  "Dug-Out" . 188 

Rocky  Branch . 188 

Zion . 188 

Oak  Oi’ove . 1.89 

Mode . 189 

Prairie  Bird . 18!) 

Tower  Hill . 18!) 

.Moweacpia . 18!) 

Cowden . 18!) 

Stewardson . 18.) 

Fanclu'r . 1!)9 

Holliday . 199 

Herrick . 199 

.3FRICA.\  .M.  E . 199 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL..  ..191 

FREE  3IETH()DIST . 299 

Cowden  .,. . 299 

Tower  Hill . 291 

Shelby  ville . 291 

BAPTIST . 292 

Shelby  ville . 293 

SUXDAY  SCHOOL  ASS  X . 2)4 


Appendi.x  to  Shelby  Co.  in  War.. 311 


IXDEX. 


1 

•age. 

..ill 

Page. 

:ti  i<i 

liicitlent  of  (’lik-kiun:uii;a .  . .  . 

.:!14 

Isenherg.  .lames  Honnell  .  . 

. .  .  .2:!!) 

Yantis.  .lolm  W . 

. 2i;i 

BIOCUAI’nilOS. 

Allon.  Albert . 

.Tackson.  Dr.  .Vinlrew  ('.  .. 
Keller.  Hon.  David  P . 

. .  .  .’20.) 

.  .  .  .’2X2 

PORTRAITS. 
Ames.  .Indge  T.  E . 

.facing  .7 

Ames.  .J\i<l}ie  T.  K . 

Kleeman.  .Max . 

. . .  .2:{:5 

Aiifrliii,  .lolm . 

.2!  HI 

Kerr.  Dr.  Edgar  1) . 

. .  .  .  ^.-H 

.\nglin.  .lolm . 

. •2!)2 

Kelley.  William  C . 

. .  .  .  ’210 

Hehymer.  hMiidley . 

. •2X!) 

Jtoys.  .lames . 

.2!)0 

I.ovins,  .lames  W . 

Hdvs.  .lolm  W . 

. 2!)2 

Hoys,  .lames  M . 

Lovins.  Heniamin  11 . 

.  .  . .244 

Hahh.  .lames  A . 

. 244 

Hoys.  .lolm  W . 

.2!  12 

Lovins.  Tobias  W . 

.  .  .  .24.7 

.'{HI 

.  .  .  .24.7 

Hiviiis.  Dr.  T.  I* . 

.2Si! 

l.ilv  iV  Dnnscomh . 

.  .  .  .  ’2.74 

Clavadetscher.  Prof.  T.  1 

: . 2:’.l 

Holt.  Dr.  (ieoi-fre  S . 

.21  ill 

Montgonu'r.v.  .Michael  ..  .. 

. .  .  .:’.o4 

Cluifee.  (leorge  D . 

. !).7 

*>."»!< 

..  ..271 

HoliiiKer.  (leorfre  U'.  (.Memori: 

Ill 

241  i 

Manzey.  Dr.  W.  11 . 

. . . .272 

Dontliit.  Rev.  .Ias|ier  E.  . 

. i;s 

Holiiijrer's  Sons . 

.  24.S 

.Manzcy.  Dr.  ileo.  M' . 

.  .  .  .’274 

Dove.  T.  F . 

. ’20!) 

lieiiiiett.  .lames  I’olU . 

.210 

Mantz.  David . 

. 277 

Dnddlesten.  D.  M . 

. 227 

('ook.  <leorjr«*  1’ . 

.  . 

.24!) 

.Mantz.  Thomas  P . 

.  .  . .27S 

Eddy.  Dr.  W.  T . 

. 221 1 

(.'ook.  Edith  i.Memoriali .  .  .. 

.2r,i 

Miller.  Henry . 

.  .  .  .•2:’.7 

Epler.  Rev.  .1.  11 . 

. 2:1!  1 

t’atliei'wood.  Dr.  'I’lios.  1 . 

.2.'i7 

Martin.  Elgin  11 . 

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Whitworth.  William . 

Children's  Home.  Shelby ville.  ...  174 

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